Old Time Workshop

I was lucky enough to attend a workshop for Old Time music today with James Leva (violin), Riley Baugus (banjo), Stephen Wade (banjo), and Danny Knicely (guitar and mandolin).  They are super musicians, cool and open, and took some questions from the audience.  I was even able to ask to what extent there is improvisation in the traditional music...the answer was...it depends, on the musicians, the setting (dance or straight listening), the instrumentation...etc.!  It seems that rhythmic improv is more prevalent, but there are embelishments of most melodies.  James Leva responded that often he is responding to the rest of the band and trying to find the right amount of melody and accompanyment.  Sounds like jazz to me.  I have a couple of flip videos of them that I will post on my Youtube chanel.  Chem 'em out.
(left to right) Leva, Bakugus, Wade, Knicely

Mark Davis, Lesson 19: Mentor

You know, when I got into Jazz there weren’t a lot of kids into it. There were no high school kids into it. Yeah, there was no High School for the Arts program there wasn’t much going on. Now, there are quite a few things going on.
DP So, it’s made some type of resurgence.
MD I think it has. I think Jeff [Hamann] and I were real isolated; there weren’t other kids that were into it.
DP It was hard to find someone to play with.
MD I felt like kind of an oddball.

Mark Davis: The Oddball.

Read more in Milwaukee Jazz Profiles: Lives and Lessons of Musicians from the Cream City (Marquette University Press, 2010)

Steve Einerson, Lesson 30: Balance

From Milwaukee Jazz Profiles: Lives and Lessons of Musicians from the Cream City...Einerson is always striving for balance between writing his own music, being a sideman, leading his own groups, and doing solo gigs.  He also seeks a balance in repertoire—Latin vs. standards vs. bebop vs. fusion music.  He cites Herbie Handcock as an example of someone who can do all of that and retain the integrity of the music.  “Milwaukee has a limited jazz audience, so how do you move people to listen, but still feel comfortable with what you are playing?”...
 Below..Steve during a Paul Silbergleit Quintet performance.
 

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