Chris Thile in London Interview
Kudos to Mandolin Cafe staff writer Dan Beimborn on an excellent, insightful interview with living legend, Chris Thile. Dan had some prime moments to speak Read more»
02.04.12
Digital text format to dominate the future
We've personally found the iPad to be extremely useful for performance and practicing. The iReal b for practicing with jazz "Standards" accompaniments, the unreal Book Read more»
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"Good improvisation communicates harmonic progression melodically. Effective melodies manipulate harmonic content through the use of guide tones and preparatory gravity notes, masterfully woven in systematic tension, release, and transparent harmonic definition."
We mentioned a week ago looking forward to 2010 being the year of the 10-string, the 10 for '10!, with several premier builders submitting their craft for review in January. We also wanted to take a contemplative move backwards and examine where we've been, the cool developments this last year at JazzMando.com. Here is our 2009 Top Five:
The onslaught of Social Networking: We've been on Facebook and Twitter a good share of the year (MySpace a couple years prior). We've enjoyed expanding our sphere of communication in this way, and if you haven't already jumped into this, you should!
Reviews: We met new Tennessee builder John Smith and his cool Tele-mandos, pondered a marvelous octave mandolin from the bench of Andrew Mowry, a lovely Zebrawood JBovier F5Z, and looked into the calculated creativity of Dr. Dave Cohen.
New Mandocasters: We also saw the introduction of the new JBovier electric mandolins, and are mere days away from having several of the new EMC beauties in hand to explore. (see pics below)
More FFcp: We introduced the minor version of FFcP, the Dorian/Minor FFcP exercises to hone your knowledge of the intriguingly darker side of music. If you don't have a copy of this on your music stand, download it now!
Been a great year. Happy New Year from the entire JazzMando Staff!
Lots of good choices in mandolin picks out there, and don't ever underestimate the importance of a proper one; after all, it's where good tone starts. You can find old school Fender celluloid picks for less than a couple quarters, or you can put $35 on your credit card for a Blue Chip pick. Go the extreme or experiment with something in the middle, a V-pick, Red Bear, Dawg, or Wegen, in the big picture this is nothing compared to the purchase price of a good mandolin, and outside of strings, it will have the biggest impact on your sound.
If you've ever wanted to know what the factors of pick shape, thickness, or material has on your sound, check our Tips archives, "Top Picks." Of course we are biased, and we'll put in a plug right here for our own signature JazzMando picks. Gold stamped on both sides, we like the finger grip of the logo, and the pure fundamental easily pulled out of the string with the smoothly beveled edge.
If you want a free sample, we always throw one in with the purchase of a polishing cloth or set of strings, or just order them in a minimum quantity of four. Never hurts to try! (only $5.25 to your domestic mailbox)
A fine catch while YouTube surfing, the Vignola Collective performing a classical/jazz music hybrid with Vignola's usual finesse and proficiency. Featured in the ensemble on mandolin is JazzMando fave, Matt Flinner (camera doesn't pan onto him until about a minute into the song). Repertoire covered includes Bach, Mozart, and Rimsy Korsakov and was performed at the Ottowa Blues Festival in The Barney Danson Theater, July 8, 2008. Selections include a medley of "Bach Partita # 2," "Turkish Rondo," and the virtuosic "Flight Of The Bumblebee."
As we take the day off to spend time with friends and family to celebrate the "Reason for the Season," we'd like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to our readers for your support and attention this past year. 2010 promises to be a very rich also; already we have some big things in the oven, starting with a collection of 10-string hands-on reviews, high profile builders including Lawrence Smart (see picture below), James Condino, JP Charles, and Pete Langdell.
We have in line the new JBovier electric mandolins to tell you about, some new FFcP exercises soon to get you deeper into the fretboard, and a signature acoustic mandolin on the drawing boards to introduce later this year. We're still plugging away on the Don Stiernberg book collaboration; keep us in your browser bookmark, RSS feed, or weigh in as a Facebook Friend.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from all of us at JazzMando.com!
December 23, 2009 | James Condino featured in Mandolin Sessions
In case you didn't catch it the first time, one of our favorites, mandolin luthier/builder James Condino is featured in the December/January Mandolin Sessions online webzine at Mel Bay. One of the most daring (and authoritative!) we know in the field of instrument design and research, James has recently settled in Asheville, North Carolina where this month he will be celebrating son Django's first Christmas.
Our friend, Missouri builder and fellow columnist Joe Mendel pens an insightful look at the thirty years of the Condino "adventure;" you'll want to take the time to get a deeper glimpse into what makes the artist tick.
December 21, 2009 | Jonathon Mann electric octave mandolin demo
A lovely Yuletide demo of his new Jonathon Mann electric octave mandolin posted on YouTube, actor/musician Michael Johnstone treats us to a clever rendition of the seasonal classic, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Multi-instrumentalist Michael has been mentioned on the site in the past for his role in the critically acclaimed HBO Series "Deadwood," and the rave reviews of his Rigel Gypsy Q.
The electric octave mandolin is tuned an octave below the traditional mandolin, pitched between a mandocello and a mandola.
December 19, 2009 | Yonac Software Mandolin ap; a mandolin for all times?
We've found a fun little iPhone/Touch ap that might amuse you. The new "Mandolin" from Yonac Software gives you a pocket instrument for your mandolin addiction. Granted it is a bit awkward to hold into position and pick like the real thing, and the more compact size makes a 6 or 7 fret stretch unrealistically small, but there are features that would make this useful as a scratch pad tool or an airport time-killer.
The ap includes three individual tones, Acoustic 1 & 2, and Electric. There's a programmable reverb and options for adjusting the screen dimensions and scrolling up and down the fretboard, although the latter isn't especially quick or intuitive in real time playing. It does offer, however, a "capo" function, alternate tunings, and for you lefties, a Left-Hand mode. Individual stretching both length and width is available, although as we mentioned, there's only so much shrinking you can do before the frets become unnatural to the player.
Still, for someone wanting to immediately hear a new written chord, or remember what a fingering looks like without having mandolin in hand, this could be useful. We see potential in proofing some of our own diagrams and materials when the mandolin isn't immediately accessible. Those of us with iPhones or the iPod Touch probably are more statistically likely to be packing these than an actual instrument.
December 17, 2009 | Holiday Shipping at the JazzMando Merchandise Center
We need to put a cautious plug in for Christmas presents from the JazzMando Merchandise Center. We think a pick pack/pouch, set of strings, silkweave cloth, or Jazz Mandolin book would be a terrific Christmas present, but we don't want any customer's tree to be empty come Friday!
If you're purchasing in the US, today's about the last day most can be sure to get an order on time (and that might be cutting it close). We pride ourselves on getting things out the same day; the Site Administrator himself is the one who licks the stamps. Of course you can spend your own Santa bucks on these supplies after the Holiday, too.
Keep in mind, the "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book purchased from us is mere quarters away from even the lowest online pricing at $15.00 (plus shipping). Nice way to start the new year, tackling a new book and getting a good grip on some concepts that can supercharge your playing.
We had the privilege of coordinating a fascinating interview with Texas Swing superstar Paul Glasse on the Mandolin Cafe website. Plush gig for us; forward a page of reader questions to the artist and we sat back as he singlehandedly labored producing over 21 pages of mandolin wealth. This feature is a great way to end a very good year over at the Cafe, the world's foremost online mandolin resource. You'll want to bookmark this interview...
Over the years, Paul has become a personal friend and JazzMando mentor. In 2006 we had some quality time with him in Lincoln, Nebraska, hiring him as a guest artist for our local "Jazz in June" series, where he was soloist for the Midwest's premiere big band jazz ensemble, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, performing in front of over 5,000. Strutting his signature Stevens electric 5-string, he demonstrated the instrument's legitimate capacity in a traditional jazz genre midst blaring trumpets and trombones and blazing saxes. We've appreciated how he's been able to blaze similar new trails for the mandolin throuhgout his multi-decade career.
You can read more about him here on the JazzMando site, his biography, and his Jazz in June appearance. Meantime, block out time to read his instructive, in-depth Cafe interview.
December 13, 2009 | JBovier Mandos coming for review
Word is the new JBovier E-mandos are enroute, and after careful inspection and scrutiny, will be available shortly after the first of the year. Below is a pictorial summary of the standard models on the way:
click image for closeup
We've been given a sneak preview of some custom shop options on these, but unfortunately, we're sworn to secrecy. All we can tell you is you're going to love what you can get out of a JBovier electric! Hoping to get special review editions before Christmas. Stay tuned.
Maybe a picture of a new JBovier can be under your tree. Some dealers are already taking orders.
December 11, 2009 | Celebrating six years with Mel Bay
Our Mel Bay book "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" gets a lot of the spotlight here (released September 2008), but what you may not know is our relationship with the ground-breaking, uber niche publisher started six years ago with our inaugural MandolinSessions article "Understanding the 'ii V7 I' Progression" in December of 2003. We've since tackled subjects like "melodic intent, "tonal centers, reharmonization, tone advice from the pros, and numerous music theory issues. We've done our best to make this as much fun as possible, and if you'd like a bird's eye view of these titles, check out all 36 articles one the Jazz Mandology "MandolinSessions Archive page.
Our most recent topic "Something Old. Something New." lays the groundwork for the second most important scale in jazz (next to the Major Scale), the Augmented 11th Scale. We discuss this in yesterday's "Tips and Tricks" section, "Sometimes things are less than they seem." We're planning more entries on this incredibly verdant sequence of notes in the future, both here on JazzMando.com and at the MandolinSessions site.
Enjoy, and do us a favor and weigh in with a comment; make us look good in front of the boss.
December 9, 2009 | J. S. Bach's "Musical Offering" (1747)
Having studied advanced counterpoint in college, we developed a deep appreciation for the genius of JS Bach. Most can enjoy the prolific composer's aesthetic appeal, but what escapes the average listener is the mathematical nature of his work. His music is a perpetual Rubik's Cube of fit and function, as incredible in math as it is in art. We came across this French website and uploaded a YouTube version we could embed here on the site.
Translated from the site: In the enigmatic Canon 1 a 2 from J. S. Bach's "Musical Offering" (1747) (also known as "crab canon" or "canon cancrizans"), the manuscript shows a single score, whose beginning joins with the end. This space is topologically equivalent to a bundle of the line segment over the circle, known as a Mobius strip. The simultaneous performance of the deeply related forward and backward paths gives appearance to two voices, whose symmetry determines a reversible evolution. A musical universe is built and then is "unplayed" back into silence.
Without mathematics we cannot penetrate deeply into philosophy. Without philosophy we cannot penetrate deeply into mathematics. Without both we cannot penetrate deeply into anything. Gottfried Leibniz
December 7, 2009 | Aaron Weinstein, "Pennies From Heaven"
We've mentioned virtuoso violinist/mandolinist Aaron Weinstein before, and the lad is back with another "How Does He Do That?" YouTube video. His execution is flawless, but it's his creative chord melody vocabulary that has us flabbergasted. Enjoy this rendition of the Johnny Burke/Arthur Johnston classic, "Pennies from Heaven."
December 5, 2009 | Jingle All the Way: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
One of the coolest Christmas instrumental projects we've heard in a decade was the 2008 release from Bela Fleck and a host of familiar and undiscovered talent in his "Jingle All the Way." As if a banjo weren't unusual enough to the the mainstream ear, imagine rounding out the departure with the Alash Ensemble Tuvan throat singers, and klezmer mandolin and clarinet from Andy Statman. The usual suspects, Victor Wooten, Jeff Coffin, and Future Man are joined with guest Edgar Meyer in the 17 song collection.
As you'd suspect, this is no traditional "Christmas with Tony Bennett" ear candy. Fresh, perhaps disturbing chord progressions, and a cadre of intriguing time signature changes make this a challenge to the mainstream ear, but after all, how many choruses of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" can one stand year after year?
Of course, we think fresh is good!
Word is out they are touring with harmonica legend Howard Levy this season. Check out the Holiday Tour schedule for an appearance near you. At very minimum, purchase this CD. It's destined to by a Yuletide treasure!
Song List:
Silent Night
Sleigh Ride
The Christmas Song
The Twelve Days of Christmas
J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio: Ich Will Nur Zu Ehren Leben
Christmas Time is Here
Linus and Lucy
Jingle Bells (Reprise)
The Hanukkah Waltz
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
What Child is This/Dyngyldai
O Come All Ye Faithful
Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
River
December 3, 2009 | New things going on with Gypsy's Mandolins.
We had the pleasure of acquiring a Gypsy's Music octave mandolin last year. It appears innovative builder/designer Walt Kuhlman of the unique American-made line has some new tricks up his sleeve, in particular, a new top arching and a delightful new violin style ebony tailpiece. (We often ponder over why others don't tackle a ball end version.)
From the builder, "I have developed a new bracing system over the past eight months to improve the dynamics of the instruments I build. I now have a system that features a very nice arch with a slight re-curve, the system adds a little more mass to the top but the result is outstanding. The instruments have retained their volume but have a very nice 'chop', (not an arch top sound but still very present) and the projection is great. Also the sound is very sweet and full in the upper registers with an outstanding bass notes. The combination of different tone woods also effects the tone, Mahogany, Maple, Walnut and Rosewood are the primary I use and have applied this style of bracing, (all of my tops are Sitka unless otherwise specified by the customer). Overall this is what I feel a great step forward in the 'flat top world' and it's role in mandolin music, any style any genre.
Looks like an amazing new breakthrough. We look forward to hearing more about these as they hit the market!
December 1, 2009 | Season's Greetings, Acoustic Music Fans!
'Tis the season to give the very best gift of all--great acoustic music and no better time for Big Holiday Savings!! The Acoustic Disc website holiday page is up and featuring some incredible deals, including 20% off on all their compact discs and free gift with purchase offerings. Save big on your holiday gifts.
We've personally enjoyed purchases of not only David Grisman ensemble incarnations through the years, but some collections of Jethro Burns, Dave Apollon, the Tone Poems series, Texas Swing from Tiny Moore & Jethro), and hard to find Choro music from Jacob do Bandolim.
Official date hasn't been set yet, but we've also got inside information about a pending re-release of Don Stiernberg's 1984 recording "Mandolin Restaurant" in the Guest Room feature of their soon-to-launch download only website, "Acoustic Oasis."
Disclaimer: In the 'Information Age' of the 21st Century,
any fool with a computer, a modem, and an idea can
become a self-professed 'expert." This site does not
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December 31, 2009 | Top Five of 2009
The ap includes three individual tones, Acoustic 1 & 2, and Electric. There's a programmable reverb and options for adjusting the screen dimensions and scrolling up and down the fretboard, although the latter isn't especially quick or intuitive in real time playing. It does offer, however, a "capo" function, alternate tunings, and for you lefties, a Left-Hand mode. Individual stretching both length and width is available, although as we mentioned, there's only so much shrinking you can do before the frets become unnatural to the player.
