April 20, 2011

Your Father’s Mustache Reunion
50th Anniversary Performance
Carnegie Hall October 9th, 2011

NEW HAVEN, CT / NEW YORK, NY:   Remember when the time of your life was right under your nose? BANJOS!  Pitchers of BEER!  Baskets of PEANUTS! Let the good times roll again……Join us for our exciting and sure to be memorable reunion weekend in New York City this Fall.
 
From the welcoming party on Saturday October 8th to the closing night gala after Carnegie Hall on Sunday October 9th, and breakfast Monday morning,   the call goes out to all Mustache alumni, musicians, bartenders, waiters, dancing girls, AND FANS!  Mark your calendars, make your plans, and be part of this very special weekend.
 
Relive those exciting nights with the World’s Best Banjo Band – that’s right, YFM musicians on stage at Carnegie….with their unique style of music and entertainment, sing-a-longs and clap-a-longs, that leaves everyone wanting more at the end of the evening.
 
Your Father’s Mustache 50th reunion weekend takes place entirely on West 57th Street… from Welcome Party to Hotel Accommodations to Carnegie Hall to Closing Gala.  A once-in-a-lifetime event (although we are already working with Carnegie Hall for the 75th in 2036! )

SATURDAY – MONDAY
October 8th, 9th and 10th
50th Reunion Your Father’s Mustache
New York City, NY

Reunion and ticket information at our website
www.reunion.yfmsite.com

Submitted by Julian Vincent

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April 15, 2011

Bath Banjo Festival

on June 11th 2011
At the BRLSI (brlsi.org), Queen Square, Bath

All day – an exhibition of banjos and related items. All welcome.

4.00 - 5.00 pm – Silent film (Harold Lloyd) with piano and banjo accompaniment. Ideal for the family (entry £7 adult, £3 under 12)

7.30 – 10.00 pm – Grand Concert featuring Allison Williams (folk-rock), Leon Hunt (progressive Bluegrass) and the Rondo Quartet with Keith Nichols at the piano plus extras . . . (entry £15)

Book accommodation at Hotel Bath | Accommodation in Bath | Hotels

Festival Information:

The 2011 Bath International Banjo Festival for somewhere to stay click here

Submitted by Julian Vincent

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January 15,  2011

Ed Cuneo - "Plays Outside the Box"

Listening to Ed Cuneo's first solo album, Outside the Box, one wishes that Ed hadn't waited so long to take on such a project. With a professional banjo career dating back to the 60's, Ed's curriculum vitae reads like a Who's Who and Where's Where of jazz banjo history. The selections found on this CD are eclectic, span a couple of decades, and include many genres - from standards to show tunes; pop to ragtime; Latin to Louisiana classics. The arrangements are inventive, cleanly performed: at times simple, at times intricate and, always interesting. The assertive and rich tones that Ed coaxes from his banjo shows a dramatic flare for his chosen craft. To this listener's ear, Ed reaches past the norm of "ordinary" chords, oftentimes finding rich replacements in many forms and voicings. Ed switches easily between full chord and single string work, frequently accentuated by his penchant for an arpeggiated style. Ed has surrounded himself by a cadre of superb musicians, their talents nicely showcased as well. In particular, the piano stylings of both Randy Morris and Bob Glendon, while completely different, are superb and tasty in either a lead and/or accompanying role. The interplay between banjo and piano throughout is playful and fun.

The CD offers 15 tracks. Tunes of particular note to this listener:

Nobody's Sweetheart Now - Ed has a fine knowledge and understanding of a banjo's role in a traditional jazz ensemble which is clearly showcased herein. This is trad jazz banjo as it should be played.

Wild Cherries Rag - an ambitious undertaking, very well done.

For Once In My Life - features an interesting, solo rubato treatment of the opening chorus that, once the band kicks in, really takes off.

What a Difference A Day Made/ and /Memories Of You - two different
tracks in a style that really seem to be Ed's comfort zone and forte. Both of these tunes are laid back, played simply and cleanly, yet swing incessantly. My favorites.

In closing, this CD would be a welcome addition to the collections of banjophiles and non-banjophiles alike. Ed's smooth, clean work and obvious love of what he does makes it a winner.

Purchase Ed's CD at CD Baby - http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/EdCuneo

Submitted by Kurt Abell

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September 27, 2010

Ogsbury's Home Lost in  Forest Fire Above Boulder

In early September there were devastating forest fires above Boulder, Colorado. One of the fires was the "Four Mile Canyon" fire. In that fire over 160 homes were destroyed and one of those homes was Chuck Ogsbury's, founder of OME and ODE banjos. This summer is also the 50th anniversary celebration of OME banjos.

More information on this story can be found on Denver's channel 9 news page along with a video. Link

Submitted by John Mumford

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July 4, 2010

Joni McGowan Passes Away Suddenly on July 3, 2010

    Mary Joan "Joni" McGowan; born in Sacramento, California in 1954; passed away unexpectedly on Saturday from a heart attack. She was best known for her time performing with the Fred Finn show in Las Vegas as well as the all girl group called "Wild Fire." She had recently graduated from San Marcos State University with a degree in English Literature. She is survived by her children; Jonathon age 12, Alayna  age 16, Joseph  23, her Mother and two sisters.
    In 2004 Joni was featured in Jazz Banjo Magazine. The article has been reposte to the internet at the following link.

Joni McGowan

 

Here is a YouTube clip form the John Davidson Show in Las Vegas that shows Joni performing with the "Mickey Finn Show."

 

Submitted by John Mumford

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