Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!

Subject: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 01:31 AM

Howdy. Thought I might share with you a fun experience I had last Saturday. My new album was still in the planning stages 'cause "This One's The Dreamer" has only been out for a few months, but an opportunity knocked...and as we know, sometimes it doesn't knock twice. I found out that Tony Trishka was coming to Toronto with his Banjo/Fusion band to play a gig at "The Comfort Zone". Now he's always been one of my absolute favourite 3 finger banjoists, so I thought I'd "roll the dice", as they say. I phoned him in New Jersey and asked he'd he do me the honour of pickin' a tune with me for the new recording, while he was in Toronto. Jackpot! He said "sure". So I dug up an old swing/country/jazz tune called "Little Rock Gettaway", wrote out a devlishly tricky chart, picked him up, and we went to Mudcatter Paul Mills' studio to record it. Although I've got some very nice guitars, Catter Mike K lent me his beautiful 1950 Martin D-28 to play rhythm guitar on. That's when the problems started........

The big D-28 was too resonant! The rhythm track (played to one of those irritating "click tracks" just had too much sustain (and didn't even sound in time!!). After about five takes, I started getting spooked and was missing chords right and left. I switched to Paul's Laskin, which has a quieter tighter sound, but by then,(in a word) I was a basket case! I'd written a chart where the chords changed on every beat (64 bars..4 chords per bar..figure it out!) with a constantly moving bass line. Problem was I was writing it out at 4 in the morning and didn't leave myself enough time to actually LEARN it. But then Paul stepped in and saved my ass! He's been playing and producing (Stan Rogers, Sharon, Lois, and Bram) in the studio for 30 years, and man, can he follow a chart...and a "click track". He aced the rhythm part, and we were ready for Tony T. and his world-class banjo.

Tony did a lot of warm up excercises with a metronome and then tackled the very hard tune. After a few false starts and some hilarious clinkers he put down two versions of "Little Rock..." that are wonderful to say the least. Lots of surprises, little jazz licks, melodic improvising, and even a bit of "Les Paul" silliness! I'll be going back into the studio in a few weeks to put a mandolin track down (and possibly a guitar break as well) but This time I'll have "practiced" the sucker! I'm in hog heaven, cause it's a great start to the new album...even it it isn't finished for a year.

His reputation as one of the great banjoists of our time is certainly spot on in my book...but I have to say he's an extremely nice guy as well. After a couple of helpings of Duckboots' shephard's pie, he even tried to DO THE DISHES! I think she's in love, and I better pull up my socks.

As the album progresses, I'll probably jot down these "diary kind of things", for any cats who might find them interesting. Any feedback on Mr. Trishka is welcome.

Rick

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 08:31 AM

No feedback per se my friend, but I really like the concept of this album and I'm looking forward to the stories associated with it. You've put together a great idea for some wonderful opportunities and I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of good tales associated with the making.

Now if Boots is looking for a guy who not only does the dishes, but also cooks a fine rack of lamb....send her down. Does she do remodeling stuff?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Vixen
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 08:36 AM

Dear Rick--

Pretty nifty Rick...sounds like you guys had *fun*, too. Tony's got a wide following in the States, which should help the new album get even more exposure down here. I hope the whole project is blessed with similar luck!

Meantime, 29 days and counting! Are we going to have an opportunity to "hang out and jam some" when you're here?

V (who seizes up as soon as the Record button goes down)

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Vixen
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 08:39 AM

Spaw, you have a WONDERFUL spouse, *and* a possum for diversity. You outta be 'shamed!

V

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 09:13 AM

Yeah Vix, but I could start a collection. Collecting is a nice hobby.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 09:44 AM

Wow Rick; I can't wait to hear it! I'm still digesting (disecting) and enjoying "This One's The Dreamer" - but I am sure looking forward to your next release. And I must say I have long been a Tony Trishka fan. I am thriled you were able to work out his appearance on your next record.

May the rest of the recording go as well!

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:21 AM

Help me out here. I'm sure that I've heard Tony, I've certainly heard a lot about him. Who did he play with? Was he once with New Grass Revival?

Can't wait to hear it though Rick.

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:22 AM

On a serious note (insert mandatory stupid pun of your personal choice)........What are you going to call this heroes and friends album anyway? Have you got a working title? Groucho had corresponded with some of the greats of literature and such over the years and eventually published them in a book called, "Letters." I was truthfully wondering what you were considering with this concept.....any ideas yet?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: GUEST,Bill in Alabama
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:27 AM

Rick-- A fine experience indeed! I have worked festivals with Tony several times over the years, and have found him to a great fellow as well as a legendary musician. He even wrote/recorded a song about my home town once.

Steve--I can't remember if Tony played with NGR; but one of his former students, Bela Fleck, was a long-time member of that group.

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:43 AM

Well guys, I had the great opportunity to be the first human being to hear Tony and Paul's first track.
'Little Rock Getaway' is more than devilish tricky. There is no room to fit another chord change in, even if you wanted to.
Looking forward to hearing the addition of Rick's mandolin track.

I just hope one day, I can become 1/3 as familiar with the fret board as Tony is.

Catspaw, as for a title to Rick's creative endeavor, I suggested he call the album 'Born Again Virgins'
What do you think guys, good title?

Little Banjo Phyte

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 10:50 AM

Rick,

Has Tony already played and left town? If the gig is this weekend I'd like to go.

Steve

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Crowhugger
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 11:00 AM

Same question as Steve Latimer: have we missed the boat? I'm from the 'burbs, but for great banjo I'd even travel the DVP!

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: GUEST,dick greenhaus
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 11:02 AM

If you can't wait until Rick's new CD is out to hear Tony, Camsco carries:

Trischka, Tony

RDR 0171, A Robot Plane Flies Over Arkansas, $12.98

Purchase Grover ~ Roberto's Dream ~ Blown Down Wall ~ A Robot Plane Flies Over Arkansas ~ Pour Brel ~ Avondale ~ Sea Shank ~ Triceratops ~ Fiddle Tune Medley ~ John's Waltz to the Miller ~ The Navigator

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 11:33 AM

I remember hearing Tony Trishka and Skyline (a great song on that one went something like "throw me out a life line" in three part harmonies, complex melodic lines, awesome pickin'). He did do a couple of recordings with Bella Fleck ... Tony is just a great great player with bluegrass roots, and very very creative style. He is a 'sit up and take notice' sort of player.

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: JedMarum
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 11:51 AM

Now that I say Tony did a couple of recordings with Bella, it may only be one, that I recall hearing about.

Rick, if a little thread creep might be indulged; when I first began listening to your last record my favorite was the title song, "This One's The Dreamer" - it starts with a great big splash and some cool 12 string pickin' strong vocal and just a great song ... but as time passes I have really taken a shine to "There Comes a Time" and "The Wind and the Rain" And for a professed agnostic (do I get that right) you also have a convincing version of "Sing With The Angels" ... I am really looking forward to hearing you play with Tony on your next one.

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 01:21 PM

Yup, Mr. Trishka was only here for one day, and is back in the wilds of New Jersey.

Mudcatter Tony Burns has suggested that I keep an official "new album diary" which will follow this project to completion...warts, horror stories, insecurities, triumphs, abject failures and nights spent pacing the floors.....kind of intriguing, but also scary. My hero, the late Quentin Crisp would of course have said "Do it, what have you got to lose", but he had far more guts than I do. I'll think about it.

P.S. Can't tell you too many times how having people in the control room like Sandy Paton (Folk-Legacy) and Paul Mills (Borealis) make the whole "album process" more fun than it usually is. (I've been in enough studios to know.)

Rick

Subject: RE: Tony Trishka, Banjoist extraordinaire!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 11:58 AM

Well I solved the problem that I pointed out in my initial post. Should have taken "Woody"(my 1950 0-18 Martin) to the session, and actually LEARNING the rhythm part that took me so long to write out, was a three hour process. The Boy Scouts had it right when they said "Be Prepared!"

Rick