Artists:
Laura Boosinger, Kate Brett, Paul Brown, Bob Carlin, Chris Coole,
Cathy Fink, Dan Gellert, Rick Good, Gordy Hinners, David Holt, Adam Hurt,
Daniel Koulack, Reed Martin, Marcy Marxer, Bruce Molsky, Arnie Naiman,
Leonard Podolak, Mark Schatz, Bill Schmidt, Mike Seeger, Bob SmakulaThe
Description:
Old Time Banjo Festival is a unique anthology featuring twenty-one of
today's finest banjo players. From old traditional tunes and songs to
contemporary compositions in many old time styles, each of these players
places an original stamp on their banjo sound, showing the breadth and depth of an instrument that traveled from Africa to the southern Appalachian
mountains, and is now played and appreciated worldwide. This first volume
features mostly solo playing and singing, with some tracks also featuring
accompaniment.
Produced by Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
www.oldtimebanjofestival.com
"Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer should be awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor for putting this masterpiece together."
-Tony Trischka
The Washington Post called the CD "an embarssament of riches..."
From the liner notes:
In the 1960s, Elektra Records released an album called The Old Time Banjo Project. On it, John Cohen gathered a handful of players who had mastered traditional sounds and styles of the old time banjo. For many years while attending fiddlers’ conventions and music festivals, I have dreamed of updating that project, to include many players who inspire me, and/or who were inspired by the Elektra recording. Old time music is alive and well, due to its exposure in films, and with new generations playing the music. It has always been a social music, and like other styles, it goes in and out of commercial popularity. But the music continues to evolve and flourish.
The five-string banjo is rich. It is rich with history, with tradition, with sonic possibilities, and in fostering friendships. This collection of fine old time banjo players is proof that the banjo’s past is respected and its future is secure. This is by no means a scholarly or all-inclusive work. There are many more wonderful old time banjo players out there than we were able to include in this volume. This is a collection of banjo players whose music we admire and who, by chance and design, were able to stop in our Community Music studio and play some tunes. In addition, we traveled to record Dan Gellert, and we also used two cuts by Reed Martin that he had already recorded for his fine CD. Rick Good’s selection was taken from a live concert recording. What started out as a simple project to record a handful of my banjo influences blossomed into a project that included twenty old time banjo players and one wonderful accompanist, Marcy Marxer. While recording, mixing and mastering, Marcy and I enjoyed every minute of this music. We certainly hope you will, too.
Cathy Fink
Please visit www.oldtimebanjofestival.com for more information on all of the players, photos, sfull liner notes/tunings and for performance information. The Old Time Banjo Festival may travel and perform in small and large groups from time to time!
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