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Philj200
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| Joined: | Thu Jun 2nd, 2005 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 1240 |
| Instrument Interest: | Clawhammer Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Fiddle, Autoharp |
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Posted: Wed Oct 17th, 2007 06:06 pm |
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BB King's in Manhattan is the best venue for just about any music you like. I saw Ralph Stanley there a few months ago and had a great time. The thread on that gig is somewhere here abouts and over on Banjo Hangout in a slightly different evolution.
I last saw Earl when I was in my early twenties. I don't even remember my twenties any more.
But I do recall asking him is he ever did any frailing. He said he didn't know how. I offered to teach him. He smiled politely. John Cohen (who had hosted the concert at a junior high school in Grennwich Village) almost swallowed his tongue at my gall. But what the heck, how often in life can you offer to teach a master anything. And it gave me a story I still tell.
Obviously.
(Stay tuned.)
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Philj200
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| Location: | New York USA |
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| Instrument Interest: | Clawhammer Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Fiddle, Autoharp |
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 01:47 pm |
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Earl on the cusp of 84.
Last night was an evening I’ll remember for a very long time. It might be the last time I see Earl Scruggs in performance. The event was at BB King's on 42 Street in Manhattan (10/17/07).
Earl is getting on in years. He has a pronounced slouch. I guess years of toting a Gibson Mastertone have left their mark.
The show was called Earl Scruggs, Family and Friends. That’s exactly what it was. Two of Earl's sons, Randy and Gary was there. All told there were eight people in the band last night. Three guitars including Randy on a Stratocaster and Gary on electric bass. The fiddler was from the stage band at Grand Ole Opry and he smoked! A young woman played dobro about as fine as I’ve ever heard, with tons of showmanship and inventiveness. Two young men on flattops. Both tenors, one with a really high register. One was Brian something. A fine singer and an incredible flat-picker. No mandolin. I’ve head that Earl is not a fan of mandolins. Earl of course on banjo. And in back of them all was a drummer with a full drum-set.
Okay stop right there. Two electric instruments and drummer? Well the drummer was tasteful and competent and did not infringe on the integrity of the music. Reality sets in. It’s a lot easier to carry an electric solid bass around the county than a full size acoustic instrument. Randy playing a Fender… he’s earned the right. Earl allowing non-traditional instrumentation... let’s get real; Earl did as much to define bluegrass as anyone on this planet. He just expanded the definition.
The crowd was capacity and very enthusiastic. The set ranged from Flatt and Scruggs pieces from the 50’s and 60’s, to Dylan tunes, to country gospel, to old fiddle pieces done ensemble, to honky-tonk classics. Gary emceed and while introducing Soldier’s Joy (and it was a joy), he mentioned that the piece was written in the late 17th century. And Earl chimed in, “by me.”
The singing was first rate with several of the band taking leads and great tight harmony with Early joining in as he’s always done. Sadly, on several pieces Earl sat down on a chair just back of the line. He continued to play, but had to rest a bit now and then. His playing was… how can I say this with without blasphemy … not at the top of his form. The sweet precision that always marked Earl’s banjo playing was there, but several times he wandered and seemed to lose his place. Once he put the capo on the wrong fret and ripped it off in a little pique. He did a couple of guitar pieces including a faithful version of the Carter Family’s You are my sunshine. His playing was er… fine. I wish he had placed the capo better, the guitar was buzzing throughout. The other musicians looked at each other, shrugged and kept going. He sort of acknowledged the capo thing with a gesture to the band afterwards. He reset it and did a fingerpicking tune. I never heard him fingerpick a guitar before. Pretty good work.
Odd thing. He seemed to go the safe route on solos. All good, (at his level of good) but not inspired. But when he played behind others… singers or pickers, he relaxed and let his fingers loose. That’s the part that I found thrilling. He ranged up and down the neck, found runs, chords and unendingly interesting sounds that added to the total sound subtly and powerfully… no matter if he was standing in the center of the band… or sitting behind them.
Was it vintage Earl. Yes, the current vintage. I’m happy to have been there. Knowing that this is how he plays would I go again? In a New York minute.
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Philj200
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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2007 09:02 pm |
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And one of the most intersting pieces last night: He set a Hank Williams blues to the Randylynn Rag (if I spelled that right). Tore the house down.
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Charlie
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| Joined: | Tue Apr 13th, 2004 |
| Location: | Glenn Heights, Texas USA |
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Posted: Fri Oct 19th, 2007 02:41 am |
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Phil that was a great review, Thats for doing it.
Charlie
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Philj200
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| Joined: | Thu Jun 2nd, 2005 |
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Posted: Fri Oct 19th, 2007 01:05 pm |
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Thanks Charlie.
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