Art Shows

Food for Thought

January 31, 2018

This month a local art gallery hosted a juried exhibit entitled “Indulge” which studies the art of eating and the culture of food. How could a banjo be linked into this theme and win the approval of a discerning art instructor from a nearby campus who would be adjucating the entries? To meet this vexing challenge, the BRC founder fashioned an open back 5 stringer entitled “Country BBQ” hoping its sizzling mother of pearl flames would fire the imagination and approbation of the judge. Alas, no such luck.IMG_5355

 

The gallery staff, however, were charmed by the banjo and invited the builder to “showcase” the instrument in an anteroom at the “Indulge” opening reception. A teeming throng of patrons crowded the gala event and spilled over into the anteroom during the awards ceremony. While one potential banjo buyer paused briefly to observe the ceremonial distribution of ribbons and cash prizes, another patron quietly purchased the banjo and prepared to take it home. As a courtesy, the BRC builder demonstrated the musicality of the instrument for the new owner by playing a familiar Grammy-award winning 5 string theme on it.IMG_5448 - Version 2

He then offered a wink and the advice that in the event of an energy crisis, this was a dual purpose instrument which could also be used as firewood to barbecue a meal.

P.S. Best Wishes to all for a Happy Groundhog Day.

 

Jamming

Preserving and Celebrating

January 17, 2018

Affording some relief from bitter and unseasonably frigid weather inherited from gusting Arctic blasts, Missouri fans and Bluegrass musicians convened at a capital city hotel and its convention center last weekend to enjoy the annual Mid West convention of the Society for Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. While the main auditorium hosted a roster of regional bands punctuated by awards ceremonies, Bluegrass pickers converged in the hotel`s cavernous lobby where spontaneous jam sessions erupted like springtime flowerbeds heralding the long-awaited end of an icy winter.IMG_6167

Curious hotel guests lingered about to investigate the spirited and spontaneous music.  With some wonderment, one puzzled onlooker inquired what was the “Society for the Prevention of Bluegrass Music…” all about? The jammers politely paused and courteously clarified that the Society`s goal was the “Preservation”  and celebration of the Bluegrass music genre. The listener returned, “Kinda like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans?” Smiles were exchanged.

In the face of inclement weather, folks from the Show-Me State devotedly invoke Mark Twain`s meteorological injunction, “If you don`t like the weather in Missouri, wait five minutes.” Twain lived much of his later years in Hartford, CT, and he is buried next to his wife in Elmira,  NY. The actual quotation attributed to him is, ” If you don`t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” Twain was a professed banjophile.

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A requisite five minute wait notwithstanding, promptly after Missouri`s  all ready frosty weekend temperatures in the teens, the thermometer plummeted to below zero in the subsequent glacial and snowy days.

 

 

P.S. Check-out the “5 string BRC open back `Fleur-de-lis` banjo” on eBay Jan.14-21.

Cell Perches & HVO

A Key to Life

January 2, 2018

Some people are plagued to identify existential meaning in their mundane lives by asking themselves questions. Bluegrass musicians are plagued at jam sessions to identify the key in which the next tune will be played by asking themselves questions like: Is a capo needed? Did I remember to bring a capo? Does anyone have an extra capo to lend? What are the words of the group chorus of this number? As pickers re-tune their instruments (an endless tyranny of the banjo)  and chat between songs, there is a background tide of noise through which the title, tempo, and key of the next number must be announced. To penetrate these subtle but competing distractions, the song leader will typically designate the key of the tune and append it with a monosyllabic word to reenforce that letter of the alphabet like a military call letter ( Alpha, Bravo, Charley, etc.). Hence, the Key of D major would be proclaimed as “D-dog.” Over the years, the BRC founder`s band has evolved its unique and fun-filled musical key identifying system:

A-  artistically, or  alternately, “the Canadian key of Aye?” More recently, aardvark.

D- Django

C- Chopin

G- gnu or sometimes, “The gnarled gnome gnashed its teeth at the gnat-covered gnu.”

B major- Beethoven, Brahms, or Bach  (the choice is yours…)

B flat- Bartok (your choice again, but alternates  like ` Bluegrass` are ok)

The keystone to successfully establishing the key signature of an upcoming tune in a jam session is by keeping your fellow musicians keenly keyed into to the key of the song by whatever system works for you and your picking`pals.

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Above are cross streets signs that one might encounter on a wintry stroll only a block from the BRC workshop and its keepsake Vega Martin Banjo Info archives. The BRC wishes all its faithful readers the Very Best in 2018!

G&F Singers

A Decade of Yuletide Cheer

December 20, 2017

For the last ten years, the BRC founder`s band and singing group have enjoyed providing festive Holiday sing-alongs for patients at the Children`s Hospital and at the University Hospital`s psychiatric center. The G&F Singers performed this week in the pediatric ward playroom where familiar tunes like “Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” were shared with patients and families. We always bring gifts of holiday-decorated surgeon`s caps sewn by our nurses for the kids and siblings.FullSizeRender

The adult psychiatric in-patients were entertained last week in the center`s activity room.  At the end of the performance, we sang “White Christmas” for them as they headed back to their ward. Gainor & Friends then paused for intermission and a group photo by the staff.  When the children in-patients subsequently arrived for their songfest,  our musicians welcomed them with a jazzy instrumental version of “Greensleeves.” The kids  promptly joined us singing Yuletide standards including the ever favorite  “Jingle Bell Rock.”Image

The G&F band members and singers are grateful for the privilege to entertain these special audiences at Holiday time over the last decade. The BRC founder thanks these skilled musicians and vocalists for their Seasonal spirit and year round generosity.

Art Shows

A Ribbon and Thanks

November 17, 2017

Intent upon introducing his newest grandchild early to the finer things in our world, the BRC founder transported the infant in a marsupial baby carrier to the opening reception of a seasonal community art exhibit. The juried show was adjucated by a judge from the art department of a St. Louis university. At the awards ceremony, the little tike and his grandfather were delightfully astonished to discover that granddad`s “Ozark Rose Mallow` banjo, which had been quietly entered into the competition, had garnered a colorful Honorable Mention ribbon.IMG_5241

The open back instrument had been hung by the front window of the exhibit hall adjacent to a seaside oil painting and overlooking a nook where a jazz duo softly played background music for the milling patrons.FullSizeRender (58)

 

 

 

The Mayor of our fine city and his lovely wife graciously posed for a photo by the banjo with the BRC founder and his dozing grandchild while a fellow musician looked-on.

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With Thanksgiving only days away, check-out the below video link for a note of appreciation to a special group of Bluegrass pickers as compiled by a journalism student from a nearby campus.  The BRC workshop wishes all blessings to our faithful readership this holiday of Thanks.