May 21,
2009
Summer
Jazz Banjo Festival
Next
month will be the first Summer Jazz Banjo Festival in Moraga,
California. Here is an update on what's happening:
The East Bay Banjo Club is
pleased to present the First Annual Summer Jazz Banjo Festival
on Sunday, June 14, Noon to 4 p.m., at the Soda Activity Center,
Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California.
The festival features the 4-string banjo, a truly American
musical instrument that popularized traditional jazz from
ragtime to wartime and beyond. Banjo players from the bay area
and beyond will perform on one of two stages, including; the
Sacramento Banjo Band, the Wineland Banjo Band, the
San Francisco Banjo Band, the Peninsula Banjo Band, The
Capital City Youth Banjo Band and the East Bay Banjo
Club.
Featured performers include; Banjo Hall-of-Famer and a member of
the original San Francisco Red Garter Band, Harry Higgins,
Banjo Hall-of-Famer Charlie Tagawa, banjoist
extraordinaire, Jack Convery and Friends, and the refined
banjo styles of Tim Weed.
The festival is a family affair with workshops for young and
old. Children will have an opportunity to make their own
instruments, learn to play a simple song and perform on stage.
Refreshments are available and a vendor area offers banjo
related memorabilia, music and a variety of raffle items.
Hall-of-Famer, Renιe Karnes, famous banjo craftsperson,
will also be joining the festivities.
Tickets are $15 advance (ends June 1st) & $20 at the door (if
not sold out).
14 & under free with an adult.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit local charities,
including the We Care Center, the Las Trampas School, and the
Bay Area Crises Nursery.
Find out more on the web at:
SummerJazzBanjoFestival.com
Submitted by
Jack Convey
May 3,
2009
Dale Small Is Gone
It was just a week ago
that Dale Small had informed us about the passing of Bob Spadoni.
Last night we lost Dale Small. I had been in contact with him
recently and he mentioned that he had not been feeling well. For
those of you that don't know him he was not only a great
contributor to the banjo world with his banjo creations but
he also shared his knowledge and kindness. Below is a story that
I did on Dale in Jazz Banjo Magazine.
Link
(Click Here)
Submitted by
John Mumford
April 20,
2009
More On The
Bricktown Banjo Bash/ Induction Ceremony
April 16th and 17th turned out to be a great time with old
friends and honoring the 2009 class of inductees to the Four
String Banjo Hall of Fame. The activities began with a
trip to the Guthrie Museum to meet up with Dave Frey's
congregation of family and friends touring the museum.
This would be the last time to see
the original museum since the new one is scheduled to
open late this summer. On Friday Johnny Baier gave a tour of the
new museum building. They are just finishing the restoration of
the building and now they are starting the finishing work. Baier
showed the group drawings of some of the new displays that will
have animatronics figures that show the progression of the
banjo through American history. The new museum is located
in a growing part of Oklahoma City. At the moment Bricktown is
more of an entertainment district but it is next to a Ball Park
and there is even a canal system like the river walk in San
Antonio, Texas.
The patrons in the different venues were very receptive to the
music and from what I heard that this may have been a trial to
see if a new festival could work in Bricktown. Rumors have it
that the new festival will be in April and not over Memorial Day
weekend like the old festival in Guthrie.
Dave Frey and Johnny Baier did a great job
of arranging for the majority of the attendees to stay at the
Hampton Inn & Suites in Bricktown. This became the central place
for a jam during the day on Thursday and also that evening after
the induction ceremonies. For more pictures and news
about the event click on this
Link.
Submitted by
John Mumford
