Howie Bursen Info ???

Subject: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 03:21 PM

I am a beginning Banjo Player and had heard about Reed Martin from another list so I went to the Martin, Bursen, and Grosswendt Concert put on by the FSGW in Washington D.C. last saturday night. All I can say is WOW. I don't know if I should be depressed because of how far I have to go, or inspired (I was inspired). The first thing I did when I entered was buy the Reed Martin CD because I had heard it is a must have for anyone learning old time banjo. It is a great compilation of Old Time tunes. (I wish the liner notes don't say anything about the banjos he plays and there were words to the tunes, but you can't have everything). New horizons were opened for me to what banjo can do by both the concert and the CD.

I did not know anything about Howie Bursen or Martin Grosswendt before the concert. Both are great, but Howie especially blew me away with both his playing and singing. He mentioned that he is married to Saly Rogers and recorded CDs with her. Does he have any recordings on his own. Are they Old Time? If I had to get only one which should it be?

Also, does anyone know about Martin Grosswendt?

Any additionalinformation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

JAB

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: Vixen
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 03:32 PM

Howie and Martin traditionally do a benefit in February at the Vanilla Bean in Pomfret, CT, which is near where Howie and Sally live. They are all three talented musicians. You'll want to search the various online sites for CDs--Folk Legacy, etc, in the Mudcat links.

Good Luck!

V

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: KathWestra
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 04:38 PM

Wasn't that a terrific concert!!!!!
Howie made a wonderful recording for Folk-Legacy, which should be available (at least on cassette) from the Mudcat Store or by clicking on the Folk-Legacy website link. That recording includes the Bill Destler song, "Would You Have Time," that Howie sang on Saturday, as well as other great stuff. In "real" life, Howie is a master winemaker in the Connecticut River Valley.

Martin Grosswendt and his wife, Marie Malchodi, live in Providence, R.I. He plays in a Cajun band, and as you heard is a terrific guitar, fiddle, and banjo player. Martin has done so much musically -- and all of it so well -- that it's hard to know where to start talking about him. I wish he did more concerts. He appeared at last year's Champlain Valley Festival and did a couple of terrific solo concert sets, as well as being in a variety of workshops with other folks. He's made one record that I know of -- yes, a record as in vinyl. Look for it in used record bins. If you'd like, I'll e-mail him and see if he's peddling any remaining copies. If he is, I'll post the info. here. Oh, and in "real" life, Martin is an editor.

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 05:00 PM

Yep. Howie's cassette is available from Folk-Legacy. If you look at our web site, click on "index" and scroll down to Howie's listing (formally: Howard Bursen -- his choice). Click on the green catalog number and find yourself whisked away to the Bursen cassette description.

Thanks again, Kathy. Looking for a promo-director job in New England? No salary; great perks.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 05:20 PM

Thanks Kath and Sandy. I will look it up on Folk-Legacy.

As I have grown older I have begun to alter my perspective on which is my "real" life. Non-work is waxing and how I make a living is waning. Ulimately, it would be nice if they merge.

I wonder if this is also true for Howard and Martin?

JAB

Intelligent Transportation Prognosticator by day: Dad, Cub-scout leader and folk music neophyte by night!

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: Philippa
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 06:07 PM

I have two Howie Bursen albums. "Cider in the Kitchen" (Folk-Legacy, 1980) and "Building Boom" (Flying Fish, 1988). The Folk-Legacy album, already mentioned is very good. The Flying Fish album includes 4 of Howie's own compositions.

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 11:10 PM

Anyone still using vinyl LPs? We have some of Howie's Cider in the Kitchen Lps left and are moving them out a only $6 plus shipping. In fact, there are a few other titles in our list of "Vinyl Dinosaurs." Take a look!

Sandy (looking for shelf space!)

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 09:58 AM

Speaking of vinyls, and many great recordings in your inventory, in perusing your site I saw that you offer "custom" made tapes of many of the old titles. They are listed at the same list prices as the regular cassette tapes. Is it possible to get a "Custom" CD-ROM made instead? One of my favorite vinyl albums is The Cheese Stands Alone by Michael Cooney. You offer it as a custom tape. I would love to have it on CD-ROM. Is it possible? Does it violate copyright arrangements?

On a related topic. If I buy the Howie Bursen tape, or record, and figure out a way to burn my own CD-ROM for personal use (and to have a permanent copy, I always hate it when an old and dear cassette tape wears out) is this a violation of copyright law?

JAB

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 12:07 AM

Burning your own CD, for personal use, is no problem at all. No different than making a cassette of a favorite album to play in your car. We've all been doing that for decades. To answer your other question, yes, we could burn a CD-R for you, but the cost would have to be pretty high. I haven't even figured it out yet. I gave a pre-release CD-R of an upcoming release to a friend, and it seems to have worked out fine. Trouble is, we'd hardly have time to set up the process to make it efficient until after the seasonal feeding frenzy has passed. I worry about the labeling, the booklet, etc. We make our custom cassettes of items we no longer have as LPs, but have not yet been able to re-issue as CDs. The Cheese Stands Alone was our last monaural LP. Michael insisted on it being monaural. Said he didn't want his voice from one speaker and his guitar from the other. I tried to explain that that wasn't the way it worked, but he was adamant. Therefore, if we were to turn it into a CD, we'd have to get Bob Katz to apply his digital magic to the master, and Katz is now getting $800 to $1000 for such an effort. We really can't afford that! Michael is talking now about making a new recording somewhere, so keep your eyes open for an announcement about it, possibly in SING OUT!.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 12:36 AM

Sandy:

Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize that it would be more difficult than copying to tape, but technology is never easy :). Still might be worth considering in the long run though for other recordings as well. I suspect that there may be others like me that would rather have a custom CD of the selections no longer available than a cassette, Especially if it could be provided at the same cost as a regular CD (like you price the cassettes).

My Christmas Wish List is growing?

JAB

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 11:44 AM

I bought the new Howie Bursen CD "Banjo Maniken" from the Pattons at the Getaway. I have already listened to it 3x's . It truly is wonderful. He plays amazing runs in clawhammer style. Check it out.

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 10:30 PM

Howie is an amazing picker. His "Joshua Gone Barbados" is really wonderful---talk about runs.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 01:31 AM

I used to see Howie play in Rosendale, NY around 1979-80 and loved his style. I once jammed with him at a gig at the Stourbridge Lion (I was a guitar player then, now I'm a mandolin picker). I had a copy of "Cider in the Kitchen" but lost in when I moved and went non-vinyl.

What I am really wanting is the insert with the lyrics to the song, Biscuts. If any fans have those lyrics I would really appreciate them. In fact, I'll mail you a copy of my CD of acoustic intrumentals FREE in exchange for them.

--Bill Petkanas

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Howie Bursen Info ???
From: harpgirl
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 09:38 AM

Hi Jim,
Well your taste in banjo pickers is great! Reed Martin was the guest of honor at one of our Florida Old Time Music Championships a few years back! Howie was here with Sally to play the Arts and Sciences School last year. I love his playing as well. He has a very pretty banjo, too!

I bet you're a fun cub scout leader!! I'd go camping with your pack!!!