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Jamming

Art Shows, Jamming

A Puma and Parting

June 25, 2022

For the summertime members-only show at the local community art gallery, the BRC craftsman fashioned a “Puma”  banjo for the exhibit. The open back instrument was decorated with laser-cut wood inlays of mostly birch. The truss rod cover was made of laminated maple. Although unknown in Missouri, the mountain panther is a solitary species that roams southern Florida and the remote regions of the Western US. Years ago, the BRC family lived a while in the wooded lake district of Florida where sightings of the furtive feline were rare but reported. Later, we resided twice in California- once overlooking the sea and once in the shadow of wilderness mountains where the big cat allegedly prowled, but only yipping coyotes were heard at night.

At the gala evening reception, curious art gallery visitors discover the Puma 5-stringer. The scientific name of this species of cougar is Puma concolor.

Last month, the yogurt shop in our capital city hosted its farewell Bluegrass jam session on the eve of the enterprise being sold to another vendor. Most of the musicians wore signature tie dye T-shirts which were a popular promotional item that the proprietors offered to faithful customers during our 6 year tenure of quarterly gigs at the main street snack bar.

From the BRC: Happy Trails to all and and thanks for the neighborly venue and free yogurt!

Cell Perches & HVO, Jamming

Back among the Outback

May 28, 2022

In the sprawling Lake of the Ozarks countryside, a small village burger shop nestled in the foothills has hosted a mid week jam session for decades. Noontime featured a classic country music songfest, and bluegrass musicians stepped up for the afternoon hours. Eventually, the country pop jammers dwindled away, but the bluegrass pickers endure to this day. The pandemic, however, silenced all music at the eatery for nearly two years- until now. With the apparent waning of the covid infestation, the weekly acoustic jam session has happily revived. Customers enjoy the renewed live music scene while our clogger (striped shirt) tutors patrons` children and grandkids to dance to the festive rhythms.

To celebrate the long-awaited revival of this southern Missouri jam session, the BRC craftsman fashioned an “Ozark Wilderness Cell Perch” smartphone holder with leftover banjo fretboard inlays to portray the hilly outback that surrounds the rural village where the burger shop resides. The table top implement is decorated with flora and fauna images including the occasional bald eagle and bobcat that inhabit the nearby rugged Show-Me State countryside.

The cell perch is destined for a community end-of-summer “Scapes” art show which will be thematically focused on the world of escapes: landscapes, seascapes, and dreamscapes, etc..

From the BRC: Keep on picking,  no matter what.

 

Jamming

Swan Song

April 23, 2022

For many years, Bluegrass musicians have gathered to jam at a yogurt shop in our capital city just a few blocks from the state legislative building which overlooks the Missouri River. In the fair weather months as seen below, music would be performed outdoors on the sunny sidewalk to entertain customers and passers-by. Our clogger (red shirt) would instruct youngsters on traditional dance steps while parents looked-on happily. These festive street scenes mostly disappeared during the deep pandemic months.

With apparent ebbing of the covid infestation, the musicians have lately returned to the eatery. One of the co-owners of the shop (mandolinist) reports that the premises have found a buyer and will be sold. We gathered recently (below) for what may be our last jam session at the friendly neighborhood venue. It will be missed.

From the BRC:  A recent visitor to the BRC Mailbox offered gracious feedback for information provided on his vintage banjo, “Dear Barry, The extraordinary time you spent to furnish information on my banjo has not gone unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, S.G.”

 

Jamming

In the Rearview Mirror?

April 9, 2022

“Now is the winter of our discontent,” spake the Duke of Gloucester, in Richard III, Act 1, Scene 1, by William Shakespeare. This prescient observation captures the seemingly endless covid season in a weary world.

With the arrival of Springtime in the Heartland, our too long journey through the pandemic tunnel may have a twinkle of light glimmering at the end of it.  Jam sessions are beginning to cautiously resume. A Wednesday afternoon picking session that recently reactivated in a nearby Ozark village church basement is a mid-week reunion of treasured friends.

Thursday evenings mark the resumption of a jammers` rendezvous that has been convening for more than a generation as seen below.

On Sunday afternoons, the weekly benefit gig for the local Children`s Hospital has reassembled on the local brewpub stage. This decade long fund-raiser sometimes merges musicians from the two aforementioned get-togethers.

In the Show-Me State, the tulip trees are unfolding their crimson blossoms while walkers and joggers repopulate the streets waving to each other. “April, dressed in all his trim, hath put the spirit of youth in everything.” -Shakespeare

From the BRC: With fingers optimistically crossed for good luck, let us hope for a renewed and healthier world with covid receding in the rearview mirror.

 

Art Shows, Jamming

Holidays Draw Near

December 4, 2021

After an hiatus of 18 pandemic months, our mid week jam session returned to giving bimonthly performances at a nearby nursing home nestled in the foothills of the Ozarks. We were stationed in the lobby in front of a glowing fireplace which was surmounted by a TV screen while the clients viewed us from afar. The audience especially enjoyed the classic country tunes  of yesteryear and old-time gospel sing alongs.

With the arrival of the Holiday Season, the local art league in our university town had its annual “Gift of Art” exhibit. The BRC craftsman fashioned a “Unikorn” banjo for the winter show.

Instead of traditional mother of pearl inlays decorating the 5-stringer, the inlays were made of birch. As always, there was a signature BRC inlay on the heel of the banjo for the eyes only of the musician.

At the gala evening Gift of Art reception, gallery visitors closely studied the “Unikorn” which was hung amidst oil and water color paintings. One couple fondly pointed-out that they had purchased a BRC banjo at a previous holiday exhibit in years past and had gifted it to their daughter who was quite pleased playing her instrument. A mother inquired with the BRC craftsman if another  “Baroque Bur Oak” type 5-stringer (see posting of June 5, 2021, or enter “baroque” in the homepage search engine) could be fashioned for her son.  As all BRC banjos are generally one-of-a-kind instruments, thematic alterations were mutually agreed upon for her son`s “Bur Oak II” banjo which is currently under construction.

From the BRC: Have a happy and healthy Holiday Season.