Ha! Thanks. Hadn’t seen that before.
Wow. Didn’t take long to find two of my banjo heroes: Alan Munde and Stephen Wade. I’m also happy to see Janet Davis there, a long-time columnist for Banjo Newsletter, which I mentioned up thread and subscribed to back in the 70s, when I was attempting to learn bluegrass banjo. I’m thinking about starting up again, but think I will go the old-time route this time. I am under no illusions that it will be easy, but it should not be quite as hard as the bluegrass style.
I mentioned John Hartford hearing Scruggs for the first time. Here is the story of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”, if anyone is interested. Hartford, in his exact words:
I’ve spoken/picked w/ all 3 at length. All super nice and approachable. Then it is neat, when you later go to a concert w/ an instructor from camp, and they call you out by name like a good buddy! Let’s see a baseball or rock music fan get that kinda proximity to their heroes!
Last summer, a buddy of mine took a class w/ SW, and it turned out he was the only one who showed up, so he had an uninterrupted hour w/ him. After, my buddy and a couple others were jamming, and SW stopped by and joined us. A lot of fun (and obviously, a helluva picker.)
In addition to classes, you can eat meals w/ them and jam all night. And 2 nights the faculty puts on a concert, where they try to impress each other - and blow us mere mortals’ minds.
I’m still fond of Flatt and Scruggs myself. Pearl is a great one.
First jazz banjo here, I believe. Love it!
Good article - thanks!
A not entirely serious answer, but “Don’t Leave Your Records In The Sun*” by John Hartford has got to be in the running.
*Because they’ll get all warped and not be of use to anyone"
Loved that!
Abigail Washburn - Song of the Traveling Daughter https://youtu.be/f83N391o4vc
For your listening enjoyment:
Seriously, too many CCD tunes to pick. Rhiannon is a national treasure.