Tuning Slide 5.17- Giving Thanks- A Story to Tell

Weekly Reflections on Life and Music

Music can heal the wounds which medicine cannot touch.
Debasish Mridha

The past two weeks have been difficult, which is why there wasn’t a Tuning Slide post last week. One of my older and deeper friends had a major health event two weeks ago tomorrow. We waited and prayed. A lot! My wife and I spent his last day at the hospital with his wife and daughter. We said goodbye about an hour after the life-support was disconnected. Five minutes after we walked out the door, he passed. Over these weeks, music was the grounding force of my life. This week, then, I have a couple of stories to tell. Since last week was Thanksgiving, the stories connect with the holiday and the gratitude I have felt in the midst of the difficulties.

The overall story goes back many years- thirty-five, to be exact. This friend was a highly talented musician. He was more than just excellent at guitar, banjo, and mandolin. He had played in many groups over the years. He was also our neighbor, he had children the same age group as our daughter, and was a member of our church. We did a lot together- if it wasn’t about church, faith, and family, it usually involved music. He was often encouraging me to work on my musical skills at the trumpet- and the guitar.

One day we were sitting having a conversation over lunch or some meal or other. We began talking about music in the church- and church musicians, many of whom were our friends in our church as well as in the larger community. We were commenting about something or other of those things that often bug pastors, even pastors like myself who were also musicians. For some now long-forgotten reason, I made some comment about myself not being one of those church musicians who would give pastors headaches. He got this “oh, really?” look on his face, paused and said:

“If you practiced more, you might.”

He looked satisfied with that- and dropped the subject.

I didn’t forget, however. I especially remembered it a number of times in the past 8-10 years when I did start practicing more- a lot more! I remembered it as my skills did improve. He was one of those smacks up the side of the head that made me wonder what it was I could really do with music if I put my mind to it.

As part of that ongoing subtle prodding, he suggested I go with him up north one year to a bluegrass jam camp he had discovered. While I have tried to learn to play guitar a number of times over the past 50+ years, I never progressed. I wanted to be as good at the guitar as I was at the trumpet, but without the years of practice. He told me there would be a number of others at the camp with the same skill level as I had- and that it would be fun. Since I have always enjoyed bluegrass music- the jazz of country music- I finally agreed. It was everything he said- and more. He and I then organized a couple bluegrass jam camps of our own at our church’s camp in Wisconsin and had the chance to meet, work with, and become friends with Monroe Crossing, one of Minnesota’s top bluegrass groups. I even went to several monthly jam sessions in the Twin Cities before moving.

After the move, my bluegrass chops began to fall away when my trumpet chops and engagement in a number of groups grew. I continued to love bluegrass and listened to it. I attempted to work on trumpet or brass quintet arrangements of some bluegrass classics. They haven’t fallen into place, but my friend did encourage me at it.

Back in September our community band was putting the music together for our fall concert. I was overjoyed to see an arrangement of a bluegrass classic, Arkansas Traveler, in the list. I took the first part with the short 16-bar solo in the middle of it. I knew it would be fun and would fit right in with all my many musical interests.That piece became the closing number of the concert.

The concert was last Saturday, only three hours after my friend died.

I had told his family about it and we were all humbled by the timing. Over the past couple of years I have lost most of my fear and anxiety of solos. As we came to my three measures of rest right before the solo, I said a brief “Thank you. This is for you, my friend” and just played.

But the story isn’t quite over. The next night my wife and I were at another concert in the Twin Cities with the incredible guitar duo of Rodrigo y Gabriela. They both talked during the concert about how powerful and important music is. It is, they both said, “a force for healing.” My friend knew that in his life. One of the groups that he played with for a number of years was a faith-based group. He often talked about how the music they played in concert or for church was more than performing. It was spirit. It was faith being lived and shared. He often talked about how when they sand and the audience or congregation sang with them, it was a “boomerang” effect. The music and faith, and healing, that they sent out was echoed back to them.

As I put all this together, and our big band played a gig this past Monday, I realized that is what has been happening in my life over these 55 years since I started playing the trumpet. It is what I discovered playing in many groups over the years. It is what I am continuing to discover, even when I sit and play long tones or woodshed a difficult part of a piece. It is what happens when our big band plays for a senior citizens group- and they smile, tap their feet, and even sometimes yell “wahoo!” when we’re done.

Music. What a joy, what a gift both to give and receive. I am thankful to overflowing with it. Never lose it. Keep playing, keep practicing, keep performing. You and the people around you will discover healing and hope.

My friend’s memorial will be next Saturday. It will be a celebration of his life- and it will be filled with music!

History Being Made

One of the most important and innovative musical adventures of the 1970s was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken. It was a massive three-record (now 2-CD) set of collaboration with some of the greatest musicians of the bluegrass and country field. It opened whole new musical landscapes for many musicians and listeners.

They followed it up in 1989 with Vol. 2 and in 2002 with Vol. 3 (a 2-CD set.) All three, over the 30 years were amazing recordings of some of the great songs and musicians who created bluegrass, enhanced country music, and helped the music grow.

Here is a video of the recording of the title song in 1989 for volume 2. Watch history being made.



One more video, a brief documentary of the making of the original 1972 album.

In Memoriam: Ralph Stanley

Glad I got to see him at the Opry.

Ralph Stanley at Grand Ole Opry, February 2014

Downtown Train

I have many memories of freight trains, growing up along the New York Central line in northern Pennsylvania. That, and the fact that my grandfather and uncle worked for the railroads, helped me fall in love with the rails. One year we took a plane to New York to visit the family in Brooklyn. But we experienced air sickness on the trip to NYC so we came home by train. That sealed it.

Over the years I have had several friends who shared my love of trains and would be out doing what is called "railfanning"- chasing trains, taking pictures and just enjoying the majesty and power of those engines and the call of the railroad. I have often lived not far from train tracks, even having c cabin along the Penn Central line in the wilderness of the Pine Creek Gorge in Pennsylvania. I have had a number of interesting train trips of my own as an adult. The distant call of the train whistle is irresistible.

A couple weeks ago I was downtown on the top level of the parking garage when that whistle came echoing through the buildings. One of the local switcher trains was coming. I was in a good location to get some video, so I pulled out my trusty iPhone and started taking the video. I went home and did some editing, added a bluegrass song (of course!) and came up with a 1:11 view of a downtown train.

Enjoy- and one of these days I may make another one with all the train pictures I have from the past 60 years.

A Day in Nashville- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

 

	Needless to say the musicians who make it into a Hall of Fame have to have done some great stuff. Roger Miller earned 11 Grammy Awards- and they are right there in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
	Ricky Skaggs is one of the top country and bluegrass musicians around- and he's been doing it for years. Here's his mandolin he played in January 1962 at age 7 on the Flatt and Scruggs TV show and his CMA Male Vocalist of the year from 1982.
Ralph Stanley- a legend! Here is the display honoring his "retirement". He may have said "Farewell"' but we did see him last year at the Opry.	And Stanley's Grammy for the soundtrack of O Brother Where Are Thou? the movie that gave Bluegrass and country music a real boost that hasn't let up.
One of my musical heroes is John Hartford. Gentle on my mind is only one example of his musicianship. Below are his Grammys and on the right, the shoes he wore to make a percussion accompaniment while onstage.

More to come later. It was quite a place to visit!!!

The Wonders of Music

We were watching PBS' Independent Lens program last week to again see the excellent documentary, Muscle Shoals, about the recording studios and musicians there who gave southern soul and southern rock music there unique sounds. When it was finished a short came on about a Tokyo-born musician who fell in love with Bluegrass then Country music through the classic and country roots sound of Jimmie Rodgers. It was called Waiting for a Train, after Rodgers classic signature tune.

It shows the power and wonder that music can cause in people. It causes the mind to explore, expand, and be changed forever. Each of us has a song or two that has done that to us. I went online and found that the whole 20-minute documentary is posted so I here share it with you.

Enjoy- and keep smiling.

Roots Music Rocks in 2014

To me one of the most exciting and innovative musical genres today is Roots Music. It can be "Americana", blues, bluegrass, rockabilly or country, some exciting things are happening there.

The wonderful people at Bluegrass Situation have come out with their list of the Best of 2014. If you think you know what "roots music" is, give their list a try. Some good, old boot-stompin' music, some amazing storytellers, some old-timers and some newcomers. It is nothing short of amazing.

Here's one of them from an amazing young musician named Parker Millsap who, as Bluegrass Situation says deserves to be on the list for using the name Tucumcari in the lyrics.



Then there's 22-year old Jonah Tolchin bring Delta Blues into the 21st Century with power!



And one more, this one a plaintively beautiful and haunting song by Water Liars.



Amazing music- and this is only a small sample.

It's Still Called Music!!

From Prairie Home Companion on October 4: The Gibson Brothers and "They Called It Music"....

... and fortunately it is still music! There is power in the old songs-

It was honest, it was simple, and it helped the hard times heal!

The Joy of Diversity- An Example

Yesterday I wrote about the joy of living in a diverse country. After I was done I was scanning my Facebook page and came across a posting from the Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. It is a live performance from the Letterman show of a song from their joint album. Del McCoury is one of the top bluegrass musicians of the day and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is, well, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Their album, American Legacies shows the musical power of diversity at work. Here is the live cut from Letterman:

Keep the Music Going

One of those fun groups of the 60s was the Association. I saw them in college (and interviewed on of them). Here they are from the Smothers Brothers show. A little of their "humor" to start things off.

And while we are on the Smothers Brothers, here's Mason Williams with his classic:

And finally, before it was the Glen Campbell show's theme, here's Campbell and the amazingly wonderful John Hartford, Gentle on My Mind.

And if you have some more time to waste use for some good music, here is John Hartford years later as he was getting ill, doing a remarkable bluegrass version of Gentle. No comparison, though both are good, this is outstanding.

Posted- Just Because It's So Good

An old song of unknown or uncertain origins. Whether in Dixieland Jazz, Bluegrass, or any other genre, it's a classic!

Grammy Winners!

It is most likely a sign of age, but the BIG names of the Grammy Awards were not the pop singers, etc. Mine were of a different genre.

Like my hero Herb Alpert winning another Grammy for his Steppin' Out album. Or Michael Brecker, et al, for large jazz ensemble.

Then there's Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell for Old Yellow Moon. Here they are discussing the album:



One of the most deserving in my book is the truly great Del McCoury band and their bluegrass extraordinaire on the album Streets of Baltimore. Del and family are originally from Pennsylvania, York, PA, to be exact. I feel some kinship to his roots since it was in York that I truly fell in love with bluegrass thanks to a radio station down the road in Maryland.

Here is Del and the band with the title track of the Grammy award winning album:



You can have record of the year or whatever with whatever happens to be the latest trend in pop music. I have a hunch that we will be paying attention to some of the lesser known and not-as-popular genres for a lot longer time!

Time: 11:11 am; Central Standard Time

The sun has gone as far south as it will this year. The days are as short as they will be (basically, anyway).

Happy Winter Solstice Day.

And since it is now winter, that means Christmas is almost here. 

Time for some bluegrass.

In Memoriam: Earl Scruggs

He made banjo-pickin' fun. Earl Scruggs died today at 88. Music will always be n his debt.




And another for good memory.

For Your Listening Pleasure

No one does it any better than Jimmy Martin.



(For V.)

A change of pace, but a bonus for today!

The Best of Both Worlds

Wow!

This is a truly remarkable album that is the best of both jazz and bluegrass. On American Legacies, the Del McCoury Band and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band come together to make MUSIC!

I have often described bluegrass as the "jazz" of country music, not because of any particular complexity, but due to its ensemble approach that features soloists improvising in breaks from the melody. The elements of both styles allows for variety that also breaks rules as often as they follow them. Chord changes and shared viruosity bring the listener of either genre into the center of the performance. You begin to listen for the changes, guessing and second-guessing the where the next solo will go. It becomes very participatory music.

The Del McCoury website talks about some of the other reasons why this collaboration is not unexpected. Both styles of music have, they say, "common roots in the rich musical gumbo of the American south in the 19th and early 20th centuries ...[with] a myriad of common influences and musical vocabularies.

More to the point is the joy as this album brings to life some of the songs that have played in both genres for years. "Jambalaya" makes the combination sound so natural. It is almost a pure Dixieland beat. you feel that shuffle so common to the New Orleans style and want to march back down Bourbon Street. But the singers, Del and Ronnie McCoury, by that bluegrass twang, remind us that this was written by Hank Williams, Sr. It belongs to New Orleans and has its home in the country.

Then there's the classic Gospel song, "I'll Fly Away." Again, a song shared by both these and other genres. It starts with a straight-ahead Gospel style, true to its roots. Clint Maedgen of the Jazz Band leads the singing into the first break- a pure Dixieland brass break. Then McCoury takes over in a straight-ahead bluegrass mode leading into a banjo break flowing smoothly yet surprsingly into the clarinet solo. It fits and begins to take the song into new areas as the clarinet bridges it all back to Dixieland Gospel. They soar together to the end.

To hear the different singers take their turns in their distinctive styles adds to the richness of two American musical styles.

But the capper for me is a Del McCoury penned instrumental. "Banjo Frisco," The musical power of each genre is raised to new levels. mixes the musical power of each, and soars into new heights. Brass and banjo together make quite a combination. The brass shines as the banjo drives the whole piece forward to a rousing finish.

It makes me wonder what "Orange Blossom Special" would sound like. I would love to hear the trumpets play those classic fiddle licks as the mandolin and bass parts provide the unique percussion. All we need then is to add a symphony orchestra and we will move into a best of all possible worlds.

Genre purists may scoff but music can surely bring us together in new and enchanting ways. American Legacies is a winner in both genres. It becomes, without putting too much emphasis on it, a capsule of how diversity can bring us somethin new and energizing out of what we thought we already knew. But more importantly, it's just plain fun!

Article first published as Music Review: Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band - American Legacies on Blogcritics.