We just received an amazing CD from a young Colorado mandolinist, Eva Holbrook. Part of a family band, "SHEL" who consist of her father Andrew on guitar and lead vocals and her three sisters who sing and play an assortment of instruments from piano, synth, bass, violin, djembe, and harp. This release "Jackbox" is an astounding display of this young talent who performs profound introspective original songs and instrumental music.

The opening track "Falling" is featured on their MySpace website, sisters Sarah, Hannah, Eva, and Liza (thus, acronym "SHEL") in full force with Andrew and a keen electric mandolin counter melody in the apt hands of Eva. "Shooting Star" follows with the 17-year-old accompanying herself on acoustic mandolin, her gorgeous soprano voice uncannily reminiscent of Sixpence None the Richer's Leigh Nash. "Window Man" is a playful contrast of orchestral and electric, her sister's flowing violin against Eva's confident processed (Seafoam Green Schwab) electric mandolinning.

The family joins in again with "Everything's Alright," their signature ensemble sound of melancholy male lead and well-crafted background vocals and electric mandolin ostinato. Stepping into solo again Eva wields a dynamic prowess of mature compositional and mandolin skills well beyond her years in the original instrumental, "Tuscany." "Born from Jets," is her Allan Holdsworth-like fun with delay pedal, and the CD caps off nicely with a lush acoustic sisters quartet of piano, mandolin, violin, and harp in "Lullaby."

Ironically, the title track "Jackbox" was the only track we couldn't quite get our arms around, but the rest of the songs are a testament to the family's compelling ensemble abilities, their mother's nurturing and committed talent incubation, and Eva Holbrook's promising future as mandolinist and composer. We understand Eva's solo release is coming out later this year (May?); we'll definitely be watching for it!

View MySpace videos: SHEL

Buy CD: Jackbox

Posted by Ted at 08:53 PM

February 25, 2007 | Al Viola

Mention "mandolin" to the average American and a very common cultural association will be the soundtrack from "The Godfather" movie trilogy. The haunting melancholy of its impassioned tremolo became its audio signature, an iconic caricature for an entire generation, somewhat pigeon-holing the potential of the 8-string instrument (in other circles second only to the stereotyping lent by its prominent role in the development of bluegrass music). Of course we're doing what we can do broaden its capabilities in the realm of jazz...

In recent news, Al Viola, the man who played the haunting mandolin on The Godfather soundtrack has died at age 87, after a battle with cancer. Viola became an in-demand guitar player in Hollywood after World War II and went on to feature on more than 500 albums, including classic releases by longtime collaborator Frank Sinatra.

Read news article: The Godfather's Mandolin Man Dead At 87

View terrific video of Al Viola on guitar with Bobby Troup.

Interesting Al Viola Bio.

Posted by Ted at 10:49 AM

February 24, 2007 | Royale Review

We've had a little over a month now to get friendly and familiar with the new Draleon Royale Gypsy Mandolin from Century Strings. The staff has passed it around for careful scrutiny, and the verdict is in--this ax is a winner!

The instrument holds a profound and significant market position in mid-level professional gear, and scores even better with innovative design and aesthetics. Some mandolins are fun to play just because they look good; this one if fun because it also performs. It's unique Gypsy homage goes beyond the charm of its cosmetic appeal; it plays well and interacts intuitively on any player's lap.

We've adopted the Royale as the signature instrument of the JazzMando website, and look forward to many years of enjoyment with this instruments. Way to go Alex Phan, Gordon Roberts, and Andy Panayides of Century Strings! This is a truly ground-breaking instrument!

Read Review: Draleon Royale

Available for purchase at JazzMando sponsor GypsyJazzGuitars.com

Posted by Ted at 07:40 AM

February 22, 2007 | Luz Negra

Interesting take on the mandolin's sonic qualities in this CD Review of Richard Galliano's "Luz Negra" (All About Jazz), describing the mandolin's assumed state as "percussive." Certainly, it bears this; in Bluegrass commonly discussed is the quality of "chop." In this context, Brazilian master Hamilton de Holanda's dynamic playing style includes some powerful pounding, but we trust his linear traits aren't lost on the reviewer.

We still like to promote mandolin as a melody instrument. Plectrum instruments in general fight this image. We pluck, and remain at the mercy of the tempering of our Right Hand/Left Hand coordination and the finger control capable of maintaining the sound, where our wind-playing brethren all need do is blow harder to sustain the tone.

We have our work cut out for us forging sustain, but it certainly can be done! We just have to put in a bit more effort.

Quote: "De Holanda's inclusion is inspired. The combination of accordion and mandolin is a perfect marriage of opposites, in which the mandolin's mercurial, non-sustained, percussive sonorities perfectly complement the langorous, drawn-out notes of the accordion. Galliano and De Holanda's counterpoints bring a shimmer to "Tangaria" and the tenderly romantic "Sanfona," and they duel fiercely on the manic head charge "Fou Rire" and swaggering "Sertao."

Yes, in comparison, the accordion is stereotypically "drawn out." Nothing like the drama of a good tango to display this, either.

Read full review: Luz Negra

Posted by Ted at 06:05 AM

February 20, 2007 | Mike and Ham US Tour

Announcing the dates for the Ham & Mike tour. Mandolin and Bandolim of many superlatives, the Duo de Dinâmico of Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda publish their US performance dates, including the equivalent to a rare alignment of the planets in this week's Wintergrass Festival (2/23-25) when they team up with Chris Thile:

February 20, 2007
Recital Hall
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California

February 21, 2007
Freight & Salvage
Berkeley, California

February 23-25, 2007
Midnight Mandolins with Mike, Hamilton, and Chris Thile
Wintergrass
Tacoma, Washington

March 1, 2007
Acoustic Music San Diego
San Diego, California

March 3, 2007
Dominican University Performing Arts Center
River Forest, Illinois

In case you just woke up and aren't aware of this amazing collaboration, monster multi-instrumentalist Marshall and his "Brother from WAAAAYYY down South" de Holanda team up to bring some of the most beautiful Brazilian music ever performed on US soil. If you can't make one of the performances, you simply must have their CD in your library.

Read Review of their recent CD release "New Words."

Current Mike Marshall Tour Dates and more information.

Posted by Ted at 06:12 AM

February 18, 2007 | Mandoswinger

The guy just keeps getting better... Dropped in on YouTube and found the 7 videos 38-year-old Pacific Northwesterner and mando-hobbyist Terry Lewis has favored the world with in his Dawg-like, swing-tinged mandolinery. Slinging his custom Weber, he's self-videographed some cool original material, and he's rumored to have recently been "published" for soundtracks for some "Surf Lifestyle" DVD recordings.

Don't forget the SPF 30 sun tan lotion, Terry!

Navigate on in to YouTube and catch the lates from "Mandoswinger."

Videos

Posted by Ted at 03:54 PM

February 15, 2007 | Mandolin at Django in June

New for this year Django in June, the first comprehensive "music camp" in the US devoted to Gypsy jazz. Django Camp will be held on the Smith College campus in beautiful Northampton, Massachusetts from Tuesday, June 12 through Sunday the 17th, 2007 with offerings for guitar, violin, mandolin, accordion and bass. Lining up a stellar staff of musicians from both coasts of the US and both sides of the Atlantic to provide an opportunity for immersion, guidance and inspiration Django in June is proud to enlist the services and expertise of Berklee Professor, John McGann for gypsy mandolin instruction.

There will still be an opportunity to just drop in for a weekend of a la carte (how about that for a little Français...) concerts and clinics as in the past; however, it's time for the chance to take both the learning and connections with other musicians to the next level.

Camp coordinator Andrew Lawrence weighs in on John McGann "the rare musician who can do a wide variety of things and do them all extremely well. A multi-instrumentalist composer, arranger, performer, recording artist, producer and educator, John works comfortably in a variety of idioms including Jazz, Bluegrass, American traditional music, and Traditional Irish dance music. He is Associate Professor in the string department at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where, among other things, he teaches the Django class.

To my knowledge, we are still the only Gypsy jazz event in the country that is actively encouraging mandolin players to claim this tradition as their own, something that may over time prove to be a uniquely American contribution to the genre. For those players who are up for blazing that trail, we can't provide you with a better guide than John McGann."

If you're out on the east coast (even if you're not!) you should try to make plans to attend this magnificent event. This is truly new ground for Jazz Mandolin!

For more information: Django Camp Don't wait; register today!

Django in June Website

John McGann's website

Posted by Ted at 09:14 PM

February 14, 2007 | Valentines Day

The power of love, the power of mandolin. Interesting read for your Valentine's Day, "How my grandfather won his wife's love," using you-guessed-it, "a mandolin!" Seems the lure of the eight-string in the hands of the right person is an irresistible chick magnet. (or dude magnet, for you ladies...)

Assignments:
Read article "How my grandfather won his wife's love"
Improvise on a few choruses of "My Funny Valentine."

More great Standards chord changes on the Ralph Pat Website.

Posted by Ted at 10:30 AM

February 12, 2007 | Mel Bay Records

We are absolutely digging several jazz recordings recently released by Mel Bay Records. Like a quadruple shot of espresso, potent quality Jazz Guitar in its most concentrated form, this music is virtual documentary of some of the most influential legends of the guitar currently playing. We were thrilled last Spring with senior editor Corey Christiansen's own project, "Awakenings," but so much more has been produced by the label since this release.

In particular, the MB3 Jazz Hits CD of Corey, Jimmy Bruno, and Vic Juris has been a steady chart buster in Jazz Week Jazz Charts throughout North America (over six weeks at #1!!!), and we hear why. There's a fine line between preserving the "architectural" integrity of a good jazz standard and offering fresh "experimentation," and these three have calculated precisely where to draw it. The selections include "Solar," "Peace," "Green Dolphin Street," "Impressions," and an outrageously creative Dobro-driven rendition of "All Blues." Never abandoning tradition, they breathe new life into these timeless treasures.

John Pisano's "Guitar Nights" is another must-have. Imagine the likes of Herb Ellis, Ted Greene, George Van Eps, Anthony Wilson, and over a half dozen other monsters of jazz guitar on the same two-disc compilation. These were all recorded live at the renowned Spazios in Sherman Oaks, CA, where the food (and the jazz!) is to die for. (We know for fact, having sent a specially designated team of JazzMando research assistants there to investigate both, recently...)

We've also accumulated in the JazzMando library Dave Stryker's, "The Chaser," Bruce Saunders "8X5" and Rick Haydon and John Pizzarelli's, "Just Friends." No mandolin content here, but if you are a perpetual student of string jazz phrasing and improvisation, these are a terrific study.

All these and more can be purchased from your favorite Mel Bay retailer or directly off the Mel Bay Records website.

Purchase Information

Corey Chrisiansen at Jazz in June

Posted by Ted at 02:35 PM

February 10, 2007 | Rich DelGrosso and Michael Lampert in concert

Coming in May, a house concert of blues mandolin with Rich DelGrosso, and Michael Lampert, sponsored by the California Tradidional Music Society. Unbeknownst to many, the mandolin has been in the blues since 1903, when blues innovator, W.C. Handy first heard the blues played by a trio consisting of a guitar, fiddle and mandolin in Cleveland, Mississippi. Featured performer Rich DelGrosso, leading proponent and expert on mandolin blues, was nominated for Blues Music Awards, in the Best Instrumentalist category, by the Blues Foundation in 2006 and 2007. Opening for Rich will be Michael Lampert. Michael has lead jazz and blues mandolin workshops in the past and was formerly the jazz columnist for the now defunct international journal, Mandolin Quarterly. DelGrosso has a regular feature in Mandolin Magazine.

Lampert is considered a close friend and mentor to the JazzMando site author and personal staff favorite. He confesses, "I started as a blues musician and later developed into jazz. Blues is really my roots." Listening to his two critically acclaimed CDs, you can hear this strong Blues influence. You can read here, a review of his latest CD, "Blue Gardenia."

Concert Location: Center for Folk Music, 16953 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA
Time & Date: Saturday, May 05, 2007, 8:00 PM-10:00 PM

Ticket Information

Artist Websites: Rich DelGrosso and Michael Lampert

California Traditional Music Society Website

JazzMando Blues Lesson: Blues 501

Posted by Ted at 12:58 PM

February 08, 2007 | World's Best Musician

Congratulations to mandolinist extraordinare, Chris Thile on his BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007 winning of "Best Musician of the Year." We've felt he was deserving of this kind of accolade years ago with the initial release of his recording "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" a blistering display of mandolin prowess and compositional recording mastery. Since then, he's partnered with Mike Marshall on two incredible duo recordings, Into the Cauldron and Live Duets, toured with bassist Edgar Meyer and violinist Hilary Hahn, and of course crossed into mainstream popularity with fabulous beyond-their-years masters Nickel Creek.

The mandolin world is fortunate to be able to claim and look up to this amazing musician. Achieving further current and critical acclaim with his current touring Neo-bluegrass incarnation, How to Grow a Band, we know we can expect much more from this amazing world-renown talent.

Nice going, Chris!

Read article

Posted by Ted at 08:58 AM

February 06, 2007 | Gypsy seeks new home

We've been out of the instrument selling business lately, but this Rigel Gypsy Q mandolin caught our eye. Lynne Harris, web designer extraordinaire, is selling her personal whiteface Q-95. Responsible for designing Rigel's recently updated website (not too long prior to its industry exodus), she caught the MAS bug bad and had to have what would ultimately become one of the last batch of Gypsy Q's Rigel would make before shutting its doors.

Rigel made a slew of fabulous A+ Deluxe instruments in its prime, but the Johnny-come-lately Q-95s will be increasingly harder to find. Better snatch this one up before someone else does. We know for a fact that it was well cared for and sports fabulous tone and playability. Don't tell her she's not asking enough for it, either...

Tell Lynne you heard about it at JazzMando.com. If the URL isn't there, it's probably already sold..
View Ad: Sweet Custom Gypsy Q Mandolin

Read about our part in developing the Q-95:
Rigel Q-95 and it's bigger sister Q-200

Posted by Ted at 01:39 PM

February 05, 2007 | From Venezuela

Here's more South American fun brought to our attention by our newly designated JazzMando International Correspondent and amateur mandolinist Nelson A. García Rodríguez, the music of Venezuelan virtuoso Ricardo Sandoval. Catch some of this terrific south-of-the-equator eight-string virtuosity on YouTube:

Recuerdos
Extractos
A Última Hora

Nelson informs us, "The other instrument different but very similar to the mandolin are named 'bandolas'. We call 'bandola llanera' to the 4 strings and 'bandola oriental' to the 8 strings. There are another bandola of 8 strings we called 'bandola guayanesa'." These are pictured on the Ricardo Sandoval website.

He also mentions the ensemble Recoveco.
Check out: Recoveco Samples

Posted by Ted at 10:13 PM

February 03, 2007 | Extreme Thile

The Tennessee audience enjoyed two musicians who go to extremes, the high-wire "trapeze" fret artistry of mandolinist Chris Thile and the basement solid bowing of bassist Edgar Meyer brought two standing ovations and an encore in a recent concert. "He just likes to show off." Thile quips of his frequent duo partner Meyer, "He can play as high as me and then like five octaves lower." Featuring original compositions that wield not only the diverse capabilities of instruments from opposite ends of the spectrum of register, their true gift is showing off the compatibility.

Throw in some Bach (including some expertly transcribed organ works), and the comedic interlude banter of two who not only work together well but play well together (pun intended), their artistry continues to delight and dazzle wherever they go.

Read review: Meyer,Thile fascinate with simplicity

More upcoming Chris Thile Concerts

Read reviews and JazzMando staff recommendations of Chris Thile's discography...

Marshall/Thile: Live Duets

Recommended Recordings: Periphery of Jazz

Posted by Ted at 06:06 AM

February 02, 2007 | Stiernberg on YouTube

This just in from one JazzMando Research Assistant and Field Reporter, Terry Lewis, a YouTube video sighting of the John Carlini Quartet featuring none other than jazz mandolin pioneer, Don "The Don" Stiernberg. The rest of the quartet in this incarnation of the ensemble includes founder and multi-talented arranger/guitarist John Carlini (formerly David Grisman Quartet), bassist Brian "Brain" Glassman, and b*$% strummer Marty Cutler. The song performed in this informal setting, "Blues al Dente" is from the quartet's 2003 release "The Game's Afoot."

Read Review.

Another great video from the YouTube archives You Can't take that Away from Me featuring Don and guitarist Jeff Jenkins. And how about the 2004 recording with world class mandolinist, Carlos Aonzo in the great Jethro Burns song "Reuben Sandwich!"

Don we know your particular addiction for Cubs baseball, but we certainly hope at least in the off season you're rooting for the Bears this weekend!

Go Bears...

Other Stiernberg/Carlini collaborations:
Angel Eyes
By George
Rumors of another one in the hopper, later this year!

Posted by Ted at 11:52 AM

February 01, 2007 | February Mandolin Sessions

New at the February issue of MandolinSessions.com, our article on Third Position Playing. For anyone seeking efficiency in closed position playing (think the horn keys, you jazzheads...), this is the place to be. Hovering your hand with the first finger on the 3rd (or 5th) fret opens up a world of ergonomic comfort, and we explain why.

Read article: Leading Off Third Base; The benefits of third position fingering

While you're there, check out some of the other great articles, including one by Wendy Anthony and one of our favorite innovative builders, Dale Ludewig. (We wanted to claim discovering Dale, but that might be a bit of a stretch...)

Website: Melbay's MandolinSessions

Posted by Ted at 09:46 AM