As much a musical innovator as he is a savvy businessman, David Grisman is tackling new frontiers in the way great music can be brought to the listener. Grisman's label, Acoustic Disc is responsible for archiving and making readily available some of the 20th century's greatest music, like that of Jethro Burns, Carlo Azonzo, David Apollon, the late Vassar Clements, and the Brazilian great, Jacob do Bandolim. Much of this music is available not only on CD, but downloadable on the Acoustic Disc Website.

We are very fortunate to have not only the musical talents and genre-bending creativities of Grisman in his decades-long incarnation of the David Grisman Quintet, but his skills as curator and acoustic music impresario to thank.

Read Article
Check out the Acoustic Disc Roster

Posted by Ted at 01:52 PM

April 26, 2006 | Berklee Django/Gypsy Jazz Ensemble

Short notice, but another terrific opportunity for you New England area Gypsy afficiandos: Fri Apr. 28 2006, the Django/Gypsy Jazz Ensemble will be playing a free recital at 1 PM, David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boyslton St. Boston MA.

JazzMando fave John McGann is leading this student ensemble and playing mandolin. The line-up includes 5 fine guitarists (one doubling on mando), clarinet, cello, and bass. (One of the guitarists sings as well.) The program includes some standards, Sweet Georgia Brown in 3 keys, What Is This Thing Called Love, as well as Django compositions like Belleville, Nuages and Mabel.

SGB in three keys, John? Wonder if they will have to pass out the capos for those Berklee kids...

Posted by Ted at 08:59 AM

April 24, 2006 | MandoScapes

MandoScapes Announces Spring 2006 Fund Drive.

MandoScapes, a 90-minute all-mandolin community radio program broadcasting from KRFC (88.9 FM) in Fort Collins, Colorado and underwritten by the Mandolin Cafe holds their Spring, 2006 Fund Drive for the program on May 1, 2006 from 6:00 - 7:30 AM Mountain Standard Time.

Show time is Monday mornings between 6:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time (GMT minus 7 hours). Listeners and fans of mandolin music from around the world are welcome and appreciated!

The program explores the musical landscapes of the world of mandolin--classical, jazz, choro, swing, new acoustic, bluegrass, blues, Cajun, contra dance, celtic, old-timey, and gypsy. The show features music from the mandolin family and related instruments (domra, oud, bandolim, and more) from every continent, particularly America, Europe, India, Russia and Brazil, from the turn of the century, to music just released.

Program Schedule

Pledges at the $60 level receive a Mandolin Cafe 21-Chord Coffee Mug and pledges at the $88.90 level receive a Mug and Cafe Logo t-shirt (subject to size limitations of M-XXL).

Become a member

Posted by Ted at 10:58 PM

April 20, 2006 | Ted Falcon CD Release Party

Announcing an evening of Brazilian Choro and Jazz, Wendesday May 31st, with Ted Falcon and the Los Angeles Choro Ensemble. These special performances 8:30 and 10:30 PM are part of a CD release party of "Memórias do Brasil," an exciting project we’ve reviewed in our Spotlight secton.

Friends in the greater Los Angeles area, mark this on your calendar. Plan to celebrate with Falcon and these great musicians at the Vic, 2640 Main St., Santa Monica.

Also coming up, the Brazilian Summer Music Festival 2006, Sunday June 4 at the Ford Ampitheatre. More info at www.braziliannites.com , 818-566-1111.

Artist website: www.tedfalcon.com

Read review: Memorias do brazil

Posted by Ted at 12:51 AM

April 18, 2006 | Rigel at Berklee

Rigel Instruments, Ltd. donates an A+ Deluxe mandolin to the Berklee School of Music jazz program. The recent addition of mandolin as a principal instrument in prestigious institution was a welcome addition to the world of jazz pedagogy. Now a perfect combination, the ultimate work-horse "player's" mando in the hands of those who have established the benchmark in jazz education for the last several decades.

From Professor John McGann, "The instrument is great; I played it this weekend, and I really dig the radiused fingerboard, big frets, and big sound. Many thanks to Peter Mix and all at Rigel for making this happen."

A cerebral ax for a new breed of cerebral player...

Read Mandolin at Berklee

Read Studying Strings at Berklee

Posted by Ted at 05:38 AM

April 16, 2006 | Nickel Creek

Catching the latest of the premier string trio, Nickel Creek, we were fortunate to witness this dynamic ensemble in rare form at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 15th. Their second time in this college town, these amazing performers exploited the theatre's combination of open-floor standing and the surrounding vintage theatre-style seating with multiple balconies in the recently renovated century-old movie house in two hours of mind-bending musical fun.

Their unique blend of folk, bluegrass, rock, and pop music enchanted audience members young and old. Virtuoso instrumentals with exemplary vocal arrangements have been their signature since there early days touring as preteens. These seasoned veterans, barely into their twenties, continue to break new ground in acoustic territory in songwriting and performing.

A special tribute to mandolinist Chris Thile for his banner efforts to establish the mandolin as an entirely new voice in pop music. No longer restrained by the demands and expectations of straw-chewing, bib-overall cultural roots, he is leading the way for a wider acceptability of the instrument in new settings.

Toe-tapping linear riffs, bite-size motif integrating deep lyric complexity, the music of Thile within the innovative stylings and context of Nickel Creek is a promising showcase for the astounding untapped potential of the mandolin.

Posted by Ted at 05:09 PM

April 14, 2006 | Q-200 Coming

Hard to be patient when you have a new instrument on the way, especially a brand new model like the Rigel Q-200 "Q-dola" we've collaborated with Rigel Instruments. (It's even tougher when you know you're going to be out of the country for a week after its arrival...)
Look for a review on this critter very soon, including eye-candy pictures and what we anticipate to be a detailed, glowing report. If it's anything like the Q-95 we developed with these master innovators, we expect a thick, full voice, and the world renown Rigel playability. Instructions forthcoming include appropriate diagrams with the Occupational Safety and Health warning "Bend slightly at knees while playing to avoid injury to back while producing intense rich, heavy sound."

View Picture: Q-200 Mandola in the white next to Q-95

Posted by Ted at 04:43 PM

April 13, 2006 | McGann Faculty Recital

Outstanding video... John McGann and some of his fellow Berklee Faculty put on a recital on campus recently. Professor McGann was kind enough to forward us a personal DVD of the whole concert, and we've been watching in awe as some of Boston's finest participated, including Matt Glaser, Aaron Weinstein, Adam Larabee, Jim Dalton, Joe Walsh, and Laszlo Gardony.

Joining them were The Wayfaring Strangers with their usual-but-unusual blend of string-band w/vocals High Mountain Bebop, fresh arrangements of classics such as "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Monroe), and "Love for Sale" (Porter). Interspersed were some tasty Django Reinhardt versions of "I've Found a New Baby" and "What is This Thing Called Love."

Fellow mando-enthusiast John Baxter has put some of these up on the Mandozine website. Take the time to check these out!

See McGann and Berklee Faculty videos

Posted by Ted at 01:54 PM

April 12, 2006 | MandoMode

A journey, not just a destination. This is our impression of the MandoMode Explorer, a brilliant mandolin software program designed to not just give you chords, but teach you the steps to building them. (Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, yada, yada, yada...)

The brainchild of Minnesota-based software guru Craig Shmoller, this is a dream come true for the mandolinist comfortable with a computer keyboard and hungry for more frets. Completely devoid of the usual steep software learning curve, you get the chord vocabulary immediately and more importantly, context. Songs demonstrate and readily apply what you've learned. Doesn't hurt that the backdrop is a beautiful Rigel A+ Deluxe mandolin...

Read our review

Manufacturer information

Posted by Ted at 10:41 AM

April 10, 2006 | Daisies

Talking with another of our favorite builders, Rolfe Gerhardt we learned of his "Daisies," a special one-of-a-kind Neoclassical mandolin. The instrument is breathtakingly gorgeous, and when you read about the over 70 hours inlay lovingly cut into the ebony (a whole week on the fingerboard alone!), you understand just why it's one of a kind. Still, it's a tribute to the artist and a testament to how devoted to his craft he is.

Please don't eat the daisies... (But you can play over them)

View picture: Daisies

Read the story: Specials

Still a stage favorite of ours, the Phoenix Jazz.

Posted by Ted at 10:34 AM

April 07, 2006 | Homer & Jethro Videos

Nothing like a little Homer & Jethro to put a little sunshine in your day. This popular guitar/mandolin singing comedy duo transparently masked an uncompromisingly high standard of playing ability midst their stage antics. Hilarious comedy yes, but brilliant showmanship and incredible instrumental mastery pervaded their classic routines.

Check out the current YouTube collection of H & J online videos:

Heartbreak Motel

Movin' On

Cimarron Roll On (w/Jimmy Dean)

How Much is that Houndog

I'm Walking Behind You

Posted by Ted at 01:40 PM

April 06, 2006 | Smitten by an Arrow

This in from buddy (and one of our favorite jazz mandolin builders) Paul Lestock of Arrow Mandolins (and Guitars).

View Picture: Hamilton de Holanda and his new Arrow Mandocello!

Paul had the privilege of hooking up with the Brazilian Virtuoso at Wintergrass earlier this year. Hamilton and world premier artist Mike Marshall teamed up in a special pre-tour duo concert, leaving the audience completely dumbfounded by their technical prowess and other-worldly musicianship. You heard it here first, a recording is in the works, Mike told us at lunch they're trying to get the final mix later this month. (We're expecting to score a pre-release review, soon.)

Captivated by the magnificent luthier skills of Lestock, Paul's showcase Mandocello ended up emigrating to Brazil in the hands of de Holanda. Pictured in the above link is Hamilton and special guest Zelia Duncan during a recent Brazilian gig with his quintet.

In case you missed it, check out the our review on the Arrow Jazzbo 4-string.

Mike playing the site author's Jazzbo (pictured also are Joseph Milano an child prodigy son, Bryce): View image

Posted by Ted at 02:07 PM

April 05, 2006 | Reharmonization Part 2

Part 2 of our two-part series on reharmonization is available for your online reading pleasure at Mel Bay Publications MandolinSessions.com. We attempt to tackle this concept by introducing five simple "tricks" at enhancing a the harmonic structure of a simple Pop/Folk tune. If you didn't catch the previous article, go to the February issue for Part 1, before you read April's Part 2.

Mandolin Sessions is a wonderful free resource offered bi-monthly by publishing giant Mel Bay, and coordinated by industry-leading teacher and music professional, Joe Carr. This month's issue features articles by regular columnists Dix Druce, Roger Landes, Wendy Anthony, Sergio Lara, Joe Mendel, and Steve Kaufman.

Read the April Jazz Mandology.

Get caught up on previous articles in our past issues page.

Do you like the MandolinSessions series? Be sure to let them know how much you appreciate this free service: contact Mel Bay.

Coming up in June, we look at Chord Melody concepts.

Posted by Ted at 07:39 PM

April 04, 2006 | ODC Longsleeve

New longsleeve T-shirts at the JazzMando Merchandise Center. Featuring the cerebral "Old Djoe Clark" graphic, this double-stitched, comfortable earthy ultra-cotton fabric can be your personal fashion statement this Spring. Of course the longsleeves are great for cooler climates, but the best thing is the way the contour and outline of the extra fabric visually pulls the attention away from and masks the player's "extended" waistline.

Check them out, and if you're bold enough, order one of our new Orange shortsleeve while you're at it!

Here: Old Djoe Clark Shirts

Posted by Ted at 07:33 AM

April 01, 2006 | Bass Mandolin

The (literal) lure of the Loar...

In case you missed it, Bass Pro, leading-edge provider of the world's fishing and outdoor gear has angled its marketing prowess to the mandolin community with a new class of product devoted to a unique interesection of interests. The April 1st announcement is a special treat for the eight-stringer also hooked on fishing, casting a whole new meaning to picking an Irish "Reel."

Tackle the article, but don't get caught with your fly down; just because you read it on the 'net doesn't mean it's...

Nevermind.

Article: Bass Pro Enters Mandolin Market

Posted by Ted at 03:48 PM