Finally!
The follow-up, greatly anticipated collaboration of two of today's most engaging acoustic string jazz artists, mandolinist Don Stiernberg and guitarist John Carlini! The dynamic duo dazzled us last year with their joint venture "Angel Eyes," a journey into popular familiar jazz "Standards" bliss. Focusing in on the best of 20th Century titan, composer George Gershwin, they favor us with freshly finessed interpretations of some of this legend's finest songs.

Read more

Posted by Ted at 06:45 AM

July 28, 2005 | Mandolin Stands

Where to park your mando?
We're quite fond of the Comfort Cradle CC04 pole mount, because of the small (as in "no") footprint. It's as stable as the microphone or music stand you mount it on.
The second is the Shoall (Ingles) SA-20 violin stand. Steady, stable, and low to the ground, that mandolin's not going anywhere & you have to work at it to tip it over...

View image

Coming soon to the JazzMando Merchandise Center, or pick one up from your favorite local music retailer.

Posted by Ted at 10:23 PM

July 25, 2005 | Scott Gates Shirt

Yes, you can own a stylish JazzMando shirt, just like this beacon of fashion, mandolinist-extraordinare, boy wonder Scott Gates. Pictured in the link below is Scott and one of his close friends, Chris Thile.
View image

Visit the website of this incredible prodigy and student of Evan Marshall:
Scott Gates

Lay in the shade by the pool sporting this shirt, seen on other such fashionable celebrities as John Jorgenson, Will Patton, Paul Glasse, Jamie Masefield, Dale Ludewig, Rolfe Gerhardt, Paul Lestock, Matt Sircely, and of course the Don himself, (MISTER Stiernberg to me).

(Sorry, umbrella drink not included...)

Pick up a shirt while they last: Order.

Posted by Ted at 06:44 AM

July 16, 2005 | RealBook Vol 2

"Faked" you out?...
Here's one you can't live without, the sequel to Hal Leonard's barn buster release RealBook Volume I, RealBook Volume II!! Just when you thought you were satiated, they have to go and come up with another 416 pages of the world's most popular jazz Standards...
We've played through a bunch of these, and every day another page is turned only to exclaim, "Wow! I always wanted the chart to THAT one, too!" (Skip the latest Harry Potter book for a while and pick up one of these!)
We have access to a limited supply, and expect more in August. Get your order in, today!
RealBook Volume II

Posted by Ted at 12:13 PM

July 13, 2005 | Scroll Pedal

Okay, F-body style or A-body?...

The chronic dilemma of every mandolinist starting or branching out in their personal and perpetual quest for the cure for M.A.S., whether to be satisfied with the Spartan dignity of the "A," or the Florentine flourish of a more expensive "F" body shape.

Of course the ultimate answer is to own both (let alone adding to the arsenal, bowlback, two-point, electric, mandola, octave, etc...), but for the player not in a position to exploit this stereotypically polygamist approach to ownership, check out the new "Scroll" pedal from EM-PAS.

View image

$500 for a strap button? Why, when you can have one of these at a fraction of the price?

Posted by Ted at 05:54 AM

July 09, 2005 | The Deep Forbidden Lake

Newly released "The Deep Forbidden Lake," from the widely popular East Coast jam band, Jazz Mandolin Project, we find mandolinist innovator, Jamie Masefield thrust a new direction entirely. A fine collection of Northern latitude folk-rock favorites, the recording also features some fabulous renditions of jazz greats Django Reinhardt ("Tears, ""Black and White"), Ornette Coleman (When Will the Blues Leave), Horace Silver (Peace), and Billy Strayhorn (My Little Brown Book).

Read our review.

Posted by Ted at 12:55 PM

July 05, 2005 | Commodium

And now for something completely different...

Keith Cary, muti-talented musician, luthier, and repair technician has crafted out of his own twisted genius, a mandolin absolutely guaranteed to get you noticed at the party, the Commodium.

We've had the privilege of entertaining a few parties with this beast; now it's time for you to know about it...

Remember, you heard it here:
Keith Cary Commodium.

Posted by Ted at 09:31 PM

July 01, 2005 | Presonus TubePre

Quite fond of the new Presonus TubePre mono pre-amp! This 1/3 space Direct Box/Pre-amp really rounds out the sound and gives any Piezo pick-up that extra oomph to fill up an amp.

Seems a good, inexpensive pre-amp plagues most every acoustic mandolinist elbowing their way to decibel dominance, especially when you compete with an electic guitar and drums in your band. Here you go:

A list price of $129.95 (streets around $99), this is a winner for anyone going either into an amp (1/4" out) or direct into the PA (balanced XLR out). Its sexy blue backlit analog VU meter (a needle indicator!) and sleek brushed alumininum casing are a glimpse of its departure hybrid tube/solid state sensibility.

Tube we tell you, it actually has a small TUBE in it, so that's where the warmth comes from. You will likely never saturate it like an electric guitarist would, and rarely run it into any kind of overdrive, but like the high end vocal tube microphones the pros use, the goal here is to give you something rich and warm.

(Okay, we're not fond of the wallwart plug, but at this price, whadya expect?)

Read more about it on their website.

View Picture

Posted by Ted at 05:40 PM