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14 Jan 17 - 11:46 PM (#3832669) Subject: Obit: Alan Jabbour From: Janie Joe Newberry, on Facebook, is reporting that Alan died yesterday, 1/13/17 at his home in Washington DC. No on-line obituary has been posted yet that I can find. Joe's FB post: "I am so sorry to hear that fiddler, writer, and scholar Alan Jabbour passed away yesterday morning at his home in Washington, D.C. So much of what we play in the traditional music world of 2017 grew out of his collecting and playing in the 1960s. I was honored to bring Alan to teach advanced fiddle at the Augusta Heritage Center Old-Time Week in 2014. I had decided that we would have a camp-wide tune that every student, from beginning to advanced, would learn. I asked him which tune it should be. Without hestitation, he answered "Over the Waterfall," one of the tunes he learned from his mentor, Henry Reed of Virginia. A number of folks on my staff asked why we would teach such a cliche of a tune. I told them that it wasn't a cliche when he collected it and saved it from extinction, and if Dr. Jabbour wanted that tune, that was the tune we would all teach and learn. When we played it as one at the end of camp, it was thrilling to hear, and it was obvious that he chose perfectly. My deepest condolences to his wife Karen and their children and grandchildren. And to all of those in the old-time music community. A giant is gone." I only met Alan once, at a friend's home. I tend to get a bit awestruck around people of note and hang back but he was incredibly warm and even drew me into conversation when he learned through my friend I was from West Virginia and was acquainted, years ago with some of the Hammons family. He overcame his classical training *grin* to become a fine Appalachian style fiddler in his own right. I'm sure many of us still listen to Hollow Rock String Band, plus have recordings of the Hammons Family and Henry Reed collected by Alan and his cohorts. He was a significant contributor to the old time revival in West Virginia and beyond. I feel sure an appropriate obituary/tribute will be written and published within the next day or so. R.I.P. Alan. Thank you so much for your contributions to the documentation and revival of old time Appalachian and southern string band music. Deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. |
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15 Jan 17 - 06:21 AM (#3832712) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: GUEST,Mike Yates Sad news, indeed. His recordings of Henry Reed and the Hammons Family have given me great joy over the years. |
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15 Jan 17 - 11:02 AM (#3832764) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: Mark Ross I knew Allan for aomost 40 years. Though we only saw each other 4 or 5 times, he was always a warm , friendly, and inspiring friend. His knowledge of American Fiddle Music was something he was always passionate about sharing with others. The last time I saw him was when iI stopped in D.C. on an East Coast trip 16 years ago. I stayed with Karen and him at their lovely home for a a few days. When we weren't trading tunes he would take me for walks in Rock Creek Park, show me around the National Cathedral, and of course allowed me to delve into the archives at Folklife Center, of which he was founding director. To get an idea of who he was I suggest that you go to YouTube and check out a talk he gave on American Fiddle Tunes. My He Rest In Peace. Mark Ross |
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15 Jan 17 - 11:13 AM (#3832765) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: GUEST,Hootenanny We followers of old time american fiddle tunes certainly owe Alan a big thank you. I was fortunate to meet him on two occasions at one of which he gave a talk on fiddle music and his collecting from Henry Reed, He was a master player and great raconteur. As with Mike Yates and I am sure most old time music lovers I have greatly enjoyed his music over the years. |
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15 Jan 17 - 05:22 PM (#3832846) Subject: RE: 2017 Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour From: GUEST,Peter white Alan was a great guy- a wonderful person, warm and gracious, full of life and a fine fine fiddle player and scholar. I met him many times in many places and was always a really cool, funny and knowledgeable man. I can't say how sorry I am. I am also surprised because he was in good health I thought last time I saw him. He did wonders for American folk music. A real hero. A real scholar, a great transmitter of tradition. I am very sad to hear of his death and I send my condolences to his family and friends. Peter |
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15 Jan 17 - 09:31 PM (#3832880) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: BanjoRay I agree with all the good things said about Alan. I jammed with him on a few occasions both in the UK and the USA - he was always kind and considerate. In recent years he toured with Ken Perlman, who's banjo playing beautifully blended with Alan's tasteful fiddling. A great loss to the old time community, but he's left us with many treasures. Ray |
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15 Jan 17 - 09:59 PM (#3832883) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: GUEST,MIKE WILLIAMS I had the fortune to meet Alan at Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington in 1979. He was teaching a workshop called the "Master Class." He certainly was a master and a wonderful warm and engaging human being. We played together at the Montana Fiddle Camp and did a couple of concerts in Helena, Montana as the "Florida Boys." I fondly recall us sitting in a couple of rickety chairs under a looming elm tree and rehearsing for our gig. He had the fortune to be a direct conduit to pre-Civil War fiddling via Quince Dillion and Henry Reed and so many of us shared that experience with Alan. |
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17 Jan 17 - 06:39 PM (#3833247) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: GUEST,Paul T. Jackson I didn't know Alan very well; Joe Hickerson a bit better, but it was always exciting to hear stories by Alan when I visited Lib. of Congress many times in the late 60s. He lent so much exuberance to all his efforts. It was fun. My role at the time was reviewing folk music recordings for Library Journal and then setting up the library for the publishers handling Woody Guthrie and Leadbetter materials. |
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18 Jan 17 - 05:28 AM (#3833315) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless) A sad loss. Glad I had the chance to meet and play with him. He was a real gentleman in every sense, |
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18 Jan 17 - 03:15 PM (#3833417) Subject: RE: Obit: Fiddler Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) From: Waddon Pete Alan was a well-loved musician and he brightened the lives of many people with his playing and sharing of the music he loved. I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. My condolences to all who know and love him. RIP Peter |