I love to watch American Idol. I hate the program but I love the contestants, especially the warblers, shriekers and moaners. The thing about this eternally bothersome program is every once in a while, like a miner panning for gold, we strike it rich. A star is born. Or at least an insanely rich pop singer. These kids will never make Idol. They don’t warble, shriek or moan. They just play the heck out of a guitar, banjo and fiddle. They’re too good for Idol…
Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
____________________________________________________________________________ Over eight hundred miles from the Grand Ole Opry and the birthplace of Bluegrass, 9-year-old banjo picker Jonny Mizzone and his brothers, Robbie 12, and Tommy 14, might be the most unassuming bluegrass trio in the region. Though their combined age is younger than music’s Hip-Hop era, it’s the music of Flatt & Scruggs & Ralph Stanley that inspires the sound pouring from the strings of Jonny’s banjo, Robbie’s fiddle, and Tommy’s guitar. Just as comfortable picking on his back, eyes closed, Jonny was the inspiration, and the name had emerged: the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys were born.
____________________________________________________________________________ Linsey Pollak is well known all around Australia as a musician, instrument maker, composer, musical director and community music facilitator.
Now here’s a performer who’s REALLY cool under pressure…
Josh Williams – Mordecai
Josh Williams | YouTube | May 11
____________________________________________________________________________ Josh Williams sings Mordecai at the Doyle Lawson Bluegrass Festival at Denton Farm Park in Denton, NC on May 5, 2011.
Some of you die hard SynchroSpace fans (all 2 of you) will remember seeing this post before. However, for those who missed it I am reposting what I consider to be one of the best videos of one of the best songs of the absolute best rock and roll band on the planet, including a performance by Lisa Fisher that has to be one of the sexiest musical accompaniments ever done in public. If you’re a Stones fan this is the absolute gold standard. Enjoy again…
Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale, using audience participation, at the event “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus”, from the 2009 World Science Festival, June 12, 2009.
The Power of the Pentatonic Scale
Bobby McFerrin | YouTube | July 09
____________________________________________________________________________ Robert “Bobby” McFerrin, Jr. is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.
I have no idea what the lyrics mean but the visuals of this little animated song are really nice. If you go to YouTube (click the icon in the corner of the video screen) you can watch a video of how they made it. 900 pencils placed precisely 24 times each second. Click…
Against the Grain
Hudson | YouTube | 15 Nov 11
____________________________________________________________________________ Hudson is a Melbourne-based indie-folk artist.
For those of you still living back in the stone age, pre Siri, that is the name of Apple’s perspicacious (and female) voice who answers all questions placed to the new iPhone 4S. Ask her any question and she replies with alarming accuracy, intuition and even humor. Inevitably one of the more creative types out there decided to sing a duet with his robot…
During the 1960′s and 70′s the music of India, particularly the syncopated and mysterious sound of the Raga became very popular in the West. It’s most famous performers were probably Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha. Rahka is not as well known as his partner but his performances on the Tabla anchored the sound of the sitar and enabled Ravi Shankar to achieve his worldwide fame. Here’s a brief taste of this incredible instrument and a master player in action…
Tabla Solo in Jhaptal
Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha | YouTube.com
____________________________________________________________________________ Alla Rakha (29 April 1919 – 3 February 2000) was an Indian tabla player and frequent accompanist of Ravi Shankar.
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