Our greatest hope is to see the mandolin become more mainstream in the jazz world. Master Mandojazzer, Don Stiernberg expressed it best in a phone conversation we had a couple years ago, where he shared his dream was that our kids would grow up in a world where mandolin was just as much a jazz instrument as a sax, trumpet, or piano in "conventional" thinking...

We're doing out best at JazzMand.com to make that happen, hoping to educate a new generation of jazz mandolinists.

Speaking of Stiernberg, did you happen to catch his 2004 interview with Jazz Improv Magazine in one of their "Sketches" conversation with the Don?

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You go, boy! You've got to be our greatest hope!

Posted by Ted at 05:22 PM

September 24, 2005 | Colors

Ever tire of brown? We know there are romantic name variations like Cremona or Tobacco-burst, but let's review...
Cremona: a town founded in 218 BC by the Romans, featuring construction that hasn't progressed since Medieval times.
Tobacco-burst: the color of a known carcinogenic plant.

Perhaps it's time for mandolinists to abandon the Middle Ages and imminent death and open up our instruments to some current hue.

Pumpkin
Blue-burst
Salmon Rose

For some other really cool finish options, visit the Rigel Custom Gallery.
A mandolin without a really cool color is like a kiss without a mustache...

Posted by Ted at 10:50 AM

September 15, 2005 | JazzMando Signature Picks

The new JazzMando Signature ProPlec Picks are out and available for purchase! Your jazz guitar-playing friends have been aware of these for a while, but now the secret is out...

Tested in our JazzMando Research Laboratories, we've introduced a version that not only offers a smooth "gliding" release, but a comfortably rigid control over tone. Add to this the extra grip of the hotstamp logo on the back side, you have added tactile no-slip command over your pick strokes.

Of course we're biased, and now we have a financial interest because we sell them here in the JazzMando Merchandise Center. Want to try one? We're throwing in a free sample with every order of JM-11 strings, this month, too!

Buy: JazzMando Signature ProPlec Pick

Posted by Ted at 11:15 AM

September 09, 2005 | Mandozine

Mando-enthusiasts, have you checked online resource Mandozine.com, fellow Mando-junkie John Baxter's library of mando-learning and labor of mando-love? Unbelievably rich with information and support for this nasty eight-string habit of ours, you'll find artist interviews, technical exercises and concepts, some home recordings from fellow mandolinerists, and of course the gateway to the Co-mando discussion group.

Lest we forget, teaming up with Mike Strangeland, John offers the world's most thorough athenaeum of mandolin TablEdit files, an overwhelming variety of mandolin transcriptions and exercises.

If this isn't already bookmarked in your "Favorites" in your web browser, put the coffee cup down, hand on your mouse, click Mandozine.com and format it now!

Posted by Ted at 10:42 AM

September 03, 2005 | Aaron Weinstein

New to the internet, the website of Chicagoland jazz violinist: Aaron Weinstein. Former mandolin student of Don Stiernberg, this 19 year-old wunderkind jazz virtuoso (though the boy done growed hisself up!), has already been hanging with such greats as legendary Johny Frigo, Bucky & John Pizzarelli, Skitch Henderson, Jay Geils, Les Paul, and of course The Don himself.

Currently on a four-year scholarship at the jazz pedagogical center of the universe, Berklee College of Music in Boston, he still manages to sqeeze in an occasional tour. Newly released is his CD, A Handful of Stars. Though the project did not include any of his jazz mandolinning, he's promised us a mandolin track is in the oven.

Hey Aaron, we tell all our fiddle friends, great jazz is definitely worth fretting!...

View his website.

Posted by Ted at 10:42 AM