New mandolin improvisation book

Spencer C. Sorenson of Bluegrass Music Denmark writes:

One of our former members, Jesper Rübner-Petersen, now living and teaching mandolin in Germany, has just had a book on bluegrass mandolin improvisation published by Mel Bay in the United States. It is a well written, thorough book that mandolin players at many levels can learn a lot from. The book contains 200 pages, and comes with a CD, where the numerous examples all can be heard. Jesper has made a MySpace page about the book. We are extremely proud that one of our native sons has produced such a fine bluegrass work.

The book can be ordered from the Mel Bay website, where full details can be found.

Toy Hearts: March 2010 newsletter

Thanks to Sophia Johnson of the Toy Hearts (UK) for the four-page March 2010 issue of the band's magazine-format, fully illustrated newsletter, which includes the big news that their third album, Femme fatale, is scheduled for release in June 2010 with distribution from a record label. The Toy Hearts will be touring in the UK and Europe during the summer in connection with the new album before their next trip to the US.

Other features include the band's endorsement of BlueChip picks (also featured in the March 2010 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine); Hannah's new Collings mandolin; and many photos from the Bluegrass Jamboree tour in December, and from the Femme fatale recording sessions. The list of forthcoming appearances on page 4 includes the Picnic Festival at Namur, Belgium (3-5 September 2010).

View the Toy Hearts' March newsletter here.

Mike Compton and David Grier in Finland, June-July 2010

Thanks to Timo Hannula, artist director of Haapavesi Folk, for the news that Mike Compton (USA) and David Grier (USA) will be at the Festival from 28 June to 4 July 2010, teaching and performing.

Mike Compton is the acknowledged master of mandolin music in the style of Bill Monroe, and David Grier is a three-time winner of the IBMA Guitar Player of the Year award.

Contact Timo Hannula
Haapavesi Folk
Haapaveden Kamariorkesteri
Haapaveden Pikkupelimannit
Lallunniementie 2
86600 Haapavesi
Finland
+358 447591298; +358 84591298; e-mail

Mike Marshall workshop at the NAG: now 17 Jan. 2010

Please note the new DATE for the workshop - one day later than originally announced. The times and cost remain as shown in the update of 3 December.

News flash from Oliver Waitze's New Acoustic Gallery (NAG) in Solingen, Germany:

Mike Marshall (USA) will give a mandolin workshop at the NAG on Sunday 17 January 2010, beginning at 13:00 and ending at 17:00. Entry: €60. The workshop will include:

*Chords & arpeggios (advanced) — A simple approach to understanding and applying chord theory for the mandolin.
*Finger busters — Right- and left-hand exercises to develop articulation, strength, and agility.
*Mike’s Simple Gifts (beginner) — The art of creating a mandolin part to complement and enhance a song in duo playing.
*Swingin’ the mandolin — Putting it all together with that elusive rhythmic propulsion.

For info and reservations, contact Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuehofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen
Tel. +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Mandolin Master Class in the Netherlands, 13 Dec. 2009

Kevin Lynch playing the great Joe Val's mandolin

Kevin Lynch (USA; now resident in the Netherlands) will give a Mandolin Master Class, beginning at 13:00, on Sunday 13 December 2009 in a private farmhouse studio at Appingedam, Groningen, in the north-east Netherlands. The class is limited to a maximum of eight students. All levels are welcomed.

* Each session is 90 minutes in length. Limited additional time is possible.
* Sessions include Group instruction; plus One-on-One private tutoring.
* Master Class fee is €45 per student / per session.
* Registration and payment in advance is required.
* Be tuned-up and ready to start on time!
* Learn how to improve your own unique style of playing.
* If there is time - a group jam before we return to real life!
* Kevin is open to addressing any issues, wishes, and needs a player may have.
* All questions and suggestions are encouraged.

To sign up, send an e-mail to Kevin, who will send you a one-page .pdf file with complete details.

Trio Vibracao in concert at the NAG, 31 Oct. 2009

The Trio Vibracao with guest Don Stiernberg

The Trio Vibracao (Oliver Waitze, acoustic guitars; Jesper Rübner-Petersen, mandolin; Max Schaaf, bass) will be playing in concert at the New Acoustic Gallery - 'Home of fine acoustic concerts' - in Solingen, Germany, on 31 October 2009, beginning at 8.00 p.m.

Admission is €18 VV, €22 AK, €14 Erm. As seats are limited to 75, reservations should be made as early as possible by telephoning Oliver Waitze at the NAG (contact details below).

Vibracao’s mastery of guitar, mandolin, violin, and acoustic bass, and their ability to swing gracefully between jazz, Dawg music, bluegrass, and Brazilian Choro is rare in the world of instrumentalists. Videos of the Trio in action (as well as other artists who have played at the NAG) can be seen on YouTube.

New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen (Höhscheid)/Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)212/2474007

Workshop and concert at the New Acoustic Gallery

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, reports on the forthcoming Mandolin Weekend Workshop (30 October-1 November 2009) given by Jesper Rübner-Petersen.

The course, which is open to all levels, begins on Friday 30 October (18:00-22:00) and continues through Saturday (10:00-17:00) and Sunday (10:30-15:00). Themes covered during the workshop will include bluegrass, old-time, Irish, blues, and swing tunes; the sound of David Grisman (tunes, solos, and tricks); and improvisation, including gipsy jazz. The cost of entry is €150 (concessions €120).

This includes a Saturday evening concert (20:00) by the Trio Vibracao - Oliver Waitze (acoustic guitars), Jesper Rübner-Petersen (mandolin), and Max Schaaf (bass). The concert is also open to up to 75 people: admission €18 VV; €22 AK; Erm. €14. The Trio can be seen and heard on YouTube playing David Grisman's 'Tipsy gypsy medley'.

The Workshop Weekend will be limited to fifteen participants. For reservations and further info on workshop and concert, contact:

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen (Höhscheid)
Tel.: +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

IBMA award winners 2009

Thanks to Lilly Drumeva of Bulgaria, a former member of the EBMA board, for news of the winners at this year's International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Show, which took place last night at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Lilly notes:

I was very happy to see that Jesse Brock [left] won Mandolin Player of the Year. Jesse plays on my album Time after time, available on CD Baby. He lived in Bulgaria for some time.

Read the full list of this year's winners here.

New mandolin model from British luthier

British-born bluegrass musician and luthier Sim Daley, now resident in the USA, has built a new mandolin for Adam Steffey to the latter's own specifications. It is now being played by Steffey in the Dan Tyminski Band. Orders can be placed for similar instruments; the original Bluegrass Blog's feature quotes a price of $8,500 and delivery in ten to twelve months.

New Acoustic Gallery news

NAG mandolin workshop attenders, 2007

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, reports that a weekend mandolin workshop, led by Jesper Rübner-Petersen, will be held from 30 October to 1 November 2009. The numbers that can take part are limited, so anyone interested should enrol as soon as possible. Cost: €165. The themes will include bluegrass, fiddle tunes, rhythm, double stops, scales... For booking or further info contact Oliver Waitze at the NAG by telephone (+49 (0)212/2474007) or e-mail.

Oliver himself will conduct a Flatpicking Guitar Workshop on 21 November 2009 from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This is for anyone who wants to improve their plectrum playing, and all levels are welcome. The scope ranges from bluegrass, fiddle tunes and variations, rhythm, scales, swing, melody, right-hand exercises, Lester Flatt G-runs, endings, to lead picking and crosspicking in the styles of Clarence White and Tony Rice. Contact data as above.

Concerts at the NAG

31 Oct., 8.00 p.m.: Swing with the Trio Vibracao (Oliver Waitze, Jesper Ruebner Petersen, Max Schaaf). €18 VV; €22 AK.


6 Dec., 8.00 p.m.: Beppe Gambetta. €18 VV; €22 AK. Includes new CD presentation, Rendez vous. 'One of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar'.

UK mandolinist in top three at Winfield contest

Winfield mandolin contest winners: Rex Preston (UK), #3; Brian McDowell (NC), #1; Josh Bailey (TX), #2 (photo from the Bluegrass Journal)

Thanks to Richard F Thompson, editor of British Bluegrass News, for the news that Rex Preston of Bath, England, who plays with the Scoville Units band, took the #3 award in the mandolin contest at the prestigious Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Several entrants from outside the US took part in the mandolin, banjo, and guitar contests; pickers from the UK seem to have been the only entrants from Europe.

For more details, see the original Bluegrass Blog.

New Acoustic Gallery Mandolin Festival Trailer

Mandolin workshop

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery (NAG) has published two video trailers from the first NAG Mandolin Festival in Solingen, Germany, on YouTube and on the NAG website under the link 'News'. There are also 66 photos taken at the Festival. Oliver reports:

We had overwhelming concerts with Mike Marshall, Caterina Lichtenberg, Don Stiernberg Trio, Trio Vibracao, and very successful workshops. I hope you like it! The atmosphere of the festival was fantastic and a highlight so far. I try to do it again next year....

New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
D-42657 Solingen
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 212/2474007
e-mail

NAG's First Mandolin Festival a great success

Late night session, Sunday: (l-r) Don Stiernberg, Caterina Lichtenberg, Jim Cox, Mike Marshall, Andy Brown, Jesper Rübner-Petersen, Oliver Waitze

'What a weekend!' Oliver Waitze reports that many photos from the New Acoustic Gallery's First Mandolin Festival (29-30 August 2009) can be seen online, together with a press report from RP Online Solingen.

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen, Germany
+49 0212/2474007

Mandolin festival workshops at the New Acoustic Gallery

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery announces that the NAG's First Mandolin Festival (29-30 August 2009) will include mandolin workshops given by the leading artists taking part:

29 Aug. 11:00-15:00: Don Stiernberg (USA) (jazz and swing mandolin)

30 Aug. 12:00-16:00 Mike Marshall (USA) & Caterina Lichtenberg (D) (classical and New Acoustic)

First Mandolin Festival at the NAG, 29-30 Aug. 2009

The New Acoustic Gallery's First Mandolin Festival, covering a range of music from Bach to Charlie Parker, will be held on 29 and 30 August 2009:

Saturday 29 August 2009
19:00 Mando Nuevo (NL/D)
19:45 Mike Marshall (USA) & Caterina Lichtenberg (D)
21:30 Don Stiernberg Trio (USA)

Sunday 30 August 2009
19:00 Trio Vibracao (DK/D)
20:00 Mike Marshall (USA) & Caterina Lichtenberg (D)
21:45 Don Stiernberg Trio (USA)

Oliver Waitze of the NAG advises booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. VV: €40 for each three-concert evening (€30 to schoolchildren, students, and old-age pensioners). To book tickets, or for further info, telephone +49 (0)212/2474007.

New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen (Höhscheid)
Germany

Joe Val's Lloyd Loar for sale

The Gibson F-5 Lloyd Loar mandolin #72207 (26 Feb. 1923), with which Joe Val performed and recorded exclusively from c.1970 till his death in 1985, is for sale. Restoration and repair work has been done by New England luthier/repairman Kenneth Miller (1972), and by David Harvey (2006) at the Gibson Showcase in Nashville, TN. It comes with the original rectangular case (which has the original Gibson sales tag and key), pre-restoration original parts, and documentation. Photos can be seen here.

Since 1986 #72207 has been in the care of, and exclusively played by, Kevin Lynch. For price and further details of this historic instrument, serious buyers should contact Kevin, who will deliver it by hand if at all possible.

Contact Kevin Lynch [in the Netherlands]
tel: (0)172 411676
e-mail

New Acoustic Gallery news

The New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, has published the flyers (left: the front of the flyer) for its 1st International Mandolin Festival (29-30 August 2009): the artists taking part are Mike Marshall (USA), the Don Stiernberg Trio (USA), Caterina Lichtenberg (D), the Trio Vibracao (D/DK), and Mando Nuevo (NL/D).

The Gallery's recently acquired instruments include a 1921 Gibson H 2 mandola with original case; a Stealth 5-String banjo in mahogany from Scott Vestal (right); a Nechville Meteor Custom electric banjo; and two 1982 Liberty 5-string banjos - a 'Quadrille' and a 'Buckdancer' - built by Bob Flesher. Further details are on the NAG website.

Lilly of the West with Radim Zenkl and Lubos Malina

Lilly Drumeva and her band Lilly of the West continued a busy spring schedule with shows at the Tea House, Sofia, Bulgaria on St Patrick’s day, 17 March 2009, and the following day on SKAT TV.

For both concerts they were joined by special guests from the Czech Republic: mandolin virtuoso Radim Zenkl, who has been living in California for twenty years, and a longtime friend, master banjoist Lubos Malina. Both have a passion for Bulgarian folk music and its instruments, such as the kaval flute.

The band - Lilly (guitar), Yasen Vassilev (guitar), Ivan Penchev (fiddle), Borislav Bojadjiev (percussion) - and their two guests presented a mixture of bluegrass, country, Irish, and Bulgarian folk music. Highlights included two Bulgarian songs in unusual rhythms (7/8 and 11/16). The musicians are planning a repertoire of bluegrass with Bulgarian rhythms. A fuller report with photos is here.

IBMM's Mando Camp 09

The International Bluegrass Music Museum at Owensboro, Kentucky, will hold its Fourth Annual Monroe-style Mandolin Camp on 11-13 September 2009. A maximum of fifty students will be able to take part.

The teachers (who will give a combined concert on the Saturday night) will be Mike Compton, camp & curriculum director; Dr Richard Brown, associate director; Skip Gorman; Tim O'Brien; Jody Stecher; and Butch Waller. Special guests: Tom Ewing, Monroe historian and concert performer, and Will Kimble, luthier. One-to-one master classes will be part of the programme.

For full details, including video footage from previous Camps, see the IBMM's Mando Camp 09 website. Gabrielle Gray, IBMM's executive director, says:

The Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp is the ultimate gathering spot for Monroe enthusiasts. Satisfy your desire to 'Know Monroe' by spending the anniversary of his birth and passing at the museum and the camp dedicated to preserving his legacy.

New Acoustic Gallery: Mandolin Festival poster

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery writes:

Hello, bluegrass lovers,

Here is the Mandolin Festival poster. Please use it to advertise wherever you can. Any help is welcome and appreciated! Kind regards & liebe Grüße aus Solingen,

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen
Germany
Tel.: +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Concerts at the New Acoustic Gallery, 2009

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery wishes all 'Acoustic Music Lovers' a happy and healthy New Year!

In 2009 the Gallery will celebrate its fifth birthday with a series of special concerts, beginning with a classical guitar recital by Ana Vidovic (left) on 8 March at 19:00. Admission is €30, and those who do not yet have tickets are advised to book as soon as possible by telephone: +49 0212/2474007.

Other New Acoustic Gallery concerts scheduled for 2009 are:

30 March: Krüger Brothers Band
2 June: Joscho Stephan Trio plus Richard Smith
29-30 August: 1st NAG Mandolin Festival with Mike Marshall, Caterina Lichtenberg, Don Stiernberg, Trio Vibracao...
31 October: Trio Vibracao
6 December: Beppe Gambetta

Details on all the artists can be found on the Gallery's website.

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen, Germany
Tel.: +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Tim O'Brien Mandolin Workshop in Genova (Italy), SATURDAY 14th Feb 2009

Martino Coppo of Redwine reports:
On the occasion of "THE BLUEGRASS PARTY" that Red Wine will host in Genova on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th February 2009, at the Teatro della Gioventù, Tim O'Brien will hold a unique bluegrass/folk mandolin workshop.
The workshop will take place at Casa Della Musica (Via Marino Boccanegra 15, I-16126 Genova–Area Darsena, PALAZZINA METELINO, 3rd floor, tel. +39-010-4213090), on Saturday, 14th February 2009, at the following times: 10:30 to 12:30 am, and 2:00 to 6:00 pm.
The fee is Euro 60,00 per person, and Euro 50,00 if you also purchase a ticket for the evening show.
For information and/or to register please contact Martino Coppo or Casa della Musica (E-mail), Segreteria +39-010.4213090; +39-010. 4213089.
The number of participants is limited, so sign up now!!

New Acoustic Gallery concerts, 2009

Ana Vidovic: not a bluegrass guitar, but...

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery, Solingen, Germany, announces the Gallery's programme of concerts for the coming year:

08.03.2009: Ana Vidovic, superstar of the classical guitar! VV €30; AK €35
30.03.2009: The Krüger Brothers Band! VV €30; AK €35
02.06.2009: Joscho Stephan Trio & Richard Smith; VV €20; AK €25
31.10.2009: Duo (Trio) Vibracao featuring Max Schaaf; VV €18; AK €22
06.12.2009: Beppe Gambetta; VV €18; AK €22

Full details of performers are on the New Acoustic Gallery website.

The NAG's first Mandolin Festival is planned for the end of August/ early September 2009. More details will follow. For reservations and more info, telephone Oliver Waitze at +49 (0)212/2474007. Early reservations are advisable, as only 75 seats are available for each concert.

Places free in Mandolin Weekend Workshop

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery, Neuenhofer Str. 122, 42657 Solingen, Germany, invites intrepid mandolinists to jump on the Mando Express - two places are free in the Mandolin Weekend Workshop with J.P. Rübner which is just about to begin. Telephone: +49 0212/2474007.

FCMA award to Sierra Hull

Thanks to the Bluegrass Blog for the news that teenage mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull (USA) received on 27 September - coincidentally, it was her birthday - the Best Bluegrass Band award from the French Association of Country Music in the 6th French Country Music Awards. Also nominated were Rhonda Vincent, Becky Schlegel, and Dailey & Vincent.

Dobro workshop in France?

Rob Ickes reports that Three Ring Circle (Rob Ickes, dobro; Andy Leftwich, mandolin; Dave Pomeroy, bass) will be performing in Lunel, France, as part of the Mandolines de Lunel 2008 festival. The festival will be held from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November.

Rob Ickes has won the IBMA Dobro Player of the Year Award nine times since 1996. Anyone interested in a dobro workshop in France, which would be scheduled during the latter part of October, should contact Rob by e-mail.

Punch Brothers in Ireland and Britain, 11-18 July

The Punch Brothers, led by mandolin wizard Chris Thile, will be playing in Europe for eight days in mid July 2008, beginning in Ireland at the Sugar Club, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, on 11 July. This will be followed by six shows in England and Scotland: at Bristol, Birmingham, London, Gateshead, Glasgow, and Manchester. Full details are on the Punch Brothers tour schedule.

Instrument workshops at the New Acoustic Gallery

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen ('Home of Acoustic Music'), Germany, sends the Gallery's 2008 workshop schedule:

5-6 May: Blues and fingerstyle jazz guitar
Instructor: Felix Schell
Includes: Bossa Nova, swing, R&B, gypsy jazz, melodies, accompanying chords, intros, endings, improvisation, solo arrangements, various techniques...
Fee: €120

27–28 September: Fingerstyle DADGAD
Instructor: Pierre Bensusan
Includes: work on the following pieces - 'L’Alchimiste', 'Hymne 11', 'The day after the feast', tappings, harp effects, stretching chords, jazz and modal scales...
Fee: €195

24–26 October: Bluegrass mandolin weekend workshop
Instructor: Jesper Rübner-Petersen
Includes: Backup, fiddle tunes, bluegrass double stops...
Fee: €175

29 November: Flatpicking master technique
Instructor: Oliver Waitze
Includes: Crosspicking in the styles of Tony Rice & Clarence White, melodies, fiddle tunes, gourmet licks a la Tony Rice, right-hand exercises, typical bluegrass rhythm...
Fee: €90

All workshops are held at the New Acoustic Gallery, Solingen.
For details contact Oliver Waitze: tel. 0212/2474007; e-mail; website.

Coming gigs: Coppo-Dalla Vecchia

Roberto Dalla Vecchia reports that he'll be playing in sweet Switzerland again this coming weekend:

I'm really excited about it because I'll be playing these gigs with mandolin wizard Martino Coppo. He's been a guest musician in my previous CDs and I'm so happy about this musical partnership.

Sat. 28 Oct.: Restaurant Lerchenberg, Zurich. Info tel. +41 (0)44 271 5566

Sun. 29 Oct.: House Concert, Lausen BL. Info tel. 061 423 96 91; e-mail; Bluegrass in Basel

Hope to see you very soon,
Yours in Doc,
Roberto Dalla Vecchia
'Flatpicking Guitar with Italian Gusto!'
MySpace site

Adam Steffey DVD on Acutab

Acutab Publications announce the release of My approach to bluegrass mandolin, a new 2-DVD instructional set by Adam Steffey, IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year for each of the last five years.

On the first disc, Adam deals with and demonstrates rhythm playing, right-hand attack, note spacing, tone/volume, practising, and building speed. He then devotes some 45 minutes, using three common jam-session tunes, to showing how to build a mandolin solo, starting with the basic melody - in several different keys.

On the second disc, Adam teaches seven of his most requested solos. Each in turn is played with a band, broken down lick by lick, and then played (fast and slow) in a split-screen orientation. An accompanying printed booklet contains transcriptions for all solos, in both tab and standard notation.

Full playing time is four hours and twenty minutes. Full details are on the Acutab website. Acutab are also offering, at no extra charge, an autographed copy of an 11 in. x 17 in. (28 cm x 43.2 cm) colour poster, showing Adam with his Daley mandolin, for the first 300 customers placing an order through AcuTab. The Gibson company launched an Adam Steffey signature model mandolin in 2002.

Baldassari meets O'Carolan

One of the best modern American bluegrass mandolinists interprets one of the most distinguished composers in the history of Irish music - Butch Baldassari has released a new CD, Music of O'Carolan, Ireland's bard. The harpist Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) was a prolific composer whose work, drawing on the aristocratic harp tradition on one hand, and influenced by contemporary Continental art music on the other, enriched Irish traditional music.

Baldassari presents twenty tunes, with himself on mandolin, mandola, and bouzouki, and John Mock on guitars, whistles, concertina, and harmonium. The CD can be bought for $15.00 at the SoundArt Recordings website.

'Doppelstopp' for mandolinists

Volker Dick, a qualified journalist and (in his own words) 'fanatic amateur mandolin player', publishes Doppelstopp, a German-language blog especially for bluegrass mandolin. Even if you don't speak or read German, check out the photos! Contact Volker by post - Bismarckstraße 1, 51643 Gummersbach, Germany - or e-mail. In addition to 'Doppelstopp', he also has a website.