Seminal Fiddlers and Tunes?

This morning I ran across a blog entry a blog entry over on the Fiddle Hangout site that got me to thinking about essential fiddle tunes and seminal recordings and whatnot. I think the list at this link is a good one for anyone who is interested in highly influential fiddlers and their playing. As you'd expect with any kind of list like this, I have some disagreements with the author. For instance, I’d have picked other tunes than “Rattlesnake” to represent Bob Holt. And maybe would have picked a couple of other fiddlers to represent the Ozark style. But anyone who thinks so highly of Pete McMahan’s playing is okay in my book. (If you don’t have the 2005 (?)collection of McMahan’s recordings, 50 Old Time Fiddle Gems on Voyager Records, you need to pick it up. It’s some of the prettiest fiddling you’ll ever hear.)

My one big gripe about the above list is that it omits some Mississippi fiddlers/bands that I think have been highly influential on current old-time fiddling. Guys like The Mississippi Possum Hunters, Floyd Ming’s Pepsteppers, and Willie Narmour of Narmour and Smith. G. B. Grayson -- though he was from North Carolina and Virginia, not from Mississppi --also comes to mind.

Another take on this (sort of, but well worth taking a look at) is Charlie Walden’s list of 100 Essential Missouri Fiddle Tunes. As the title suggests, it’s tune-oriented rather than player-oriented. And the list is pretty limited by geography and Walden’s preferences. But it’s a good starting point for discussion.

And now.... back to stinkin' work.

Banjo Conversation

I recently had a woman acquaintance tell me that hearing the banjo really turns her on. And has since she was young.

I've never had anyone tell me that about the fiddle.

I think I need to start playing the banjo in public more often.

New Ink

Pictures of the latest addition. I had this done by Melissa at Cheap Trx last Sunday, 12/30. Right shoulder. She did a fine job on the lap dulcimer, I thought, seeing as she didn't know what one is. And the color turned out well, too. You'll have to forgive the poor photo quality as I took it myself.

Next up will be the peg head and neck of my Ramsey banjo along the right side of my back to go with the fiddle peg head and neck that's there now.

Eureka! We've found Bluegrass!

Friday evening saw Uncle Dan'l and me out at the MABC Bluegrass festival in the Eureka, MO Holiday Inn. We had a pretty good time hanging out at the fiddle and banjo contests and jamming in and around the bar/swimming pool area.

There were several Folk School of St. Louis teachers and students roaming the halls and jamming.

We hadn't known that Hot Baloney Boys bandmate Colleen and her sister were going to be there, but ran into them anyway. The were having a great time as seen in the photo below.

The Bluegrass Party Twins!

Colleen had her mandolin with her and was trying it out on all kinds of new tunes. It was the first time she'd let Dan and me hear her play it. Here's hoping we can get her to play it a lot more often! She sounded pretty good.

Later on, we ran into Steve and Crystal Craig and Mike Hall of Miss Crystal and the Codgers. They invited us to jam with them and we spend a couple of hours sharing tunes, including a spirited (and we had the spirits to prove it!) "Booth Shot Lincoln", "Grasshopper Sittin' on a Sweet Potato Vine", and a zen-like "Sandy Boys" that went on for quite a while. Old-Time trance music: my favorite!

UncleDan'l and Colleen with her new mandolin

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Steve and Crystal Craig with Dan

It was the first time I've had chance to play tunes with Mike Hall, though I've heard him play a few times. It was a terrific experience. He's a good player and a heck of a nice guy.

Mike Hall cools his fingers after a hot fiddle tune!

All in all a good night. Dan and I drove home around midnight with that pleasant buzz one gets from playing tunes (and a helping or two of Budweiser's finest).

First Night Four Days Later

Had a real good time playing for First Night in St. Louis New Year's Eve. We had a big crowd and a whole lot of dancers. The band (Mound City Slickers) sounded great and Mac did yeoman's work calling the contras for a bunch of folks who'd never danced before.

If you're wondering what you missed, we'll be playing for another dance on Sunday evening, January 27 for Childgrove Dancers at the Monday Club in Webster Groves, MO. For more info, click on the Childgrove link in the previous sentence.