Masters of the Banjo

by MASTERS OF THE BANJO / VARIOUS

Overview

Collecting live performances from the Masters of the Banjo tour from the early 1990s, an impressive audio history of the banjo is provided by way of 26 performances by 11 different artists. Everything from Seleshe Damessae's performances on African krar, an ancient precursor to the modern banjo, to Ralph Stanley's bluegrass workouts is represented, with a large number of the samples coming from a Celtic tradition, as well. Kirk Sutphin, from the legendary Sutphin family, provides fine examples of early American banjo tradition, using claw hammer style in "John Brown's Dream" and a rollicking string band tune in "Let Me Fall." Multi-talented Tony Ellis contributes four of his amazingly intricate original compositions, representing the progression of the instrument from primarily being dance accompaniment to something altogether more pensive. Irish tenor banjo workouts by Seamus Egan show a strong influence of Irish uilleann pipes, as he embraces both traditional and contemporary styles. Carroll Best's unique three-finger style and Will Keys' two-finger up-picking style are extraordinary examples of how differently the instrument has developed even from region to region in the southern United States. All in all, you have a concise, though certainly not complete, history of the progression of the banjo that does a fine job showing the past, present, and future of the instrument. ~ Matt Fink

Product Details

Release Date:	02/04/1994
Label:	ARHOOLIE RECORDS
UPC:	0096297042120

Tracks

1. The Eldest of All (The Nile)  - Seleshe Demessae
2. A Family Quarrel on Sunday  - Seleshe Demessae
3. If You Come, Come; If You Go, Go  - Seleshe Demessae
4. John Brown's Dream  - Dudley Connell  - Laurie Lewis  - Kirk Sutphin  - Jimmy Trivette
5. Let Me Fall  - Dudley Connell  - Laurie Lewis  - Kirk Sutphin  - Jimmy Trivette
6. Yellow Rose of Texas  - Dudley Connell  - Laurie Lewis  - Kirk Sutphin  - Jimmy Trivette
7. Oh My Little Darling  - Dudley Connell  - Laurie Lewis  - Kirk Sutphin  - Jimmy Trivette
8. The Wild Fox  - Tony Ellis
9. Wind Chimes and Nursery Rhymes  - Tony Ellis
10. Cherry Blossom Waltz  - Tony Ellis
11. Hand in Hand  - Tony Ellis
12. Bird in the Tree  - Seamus Egan
13. Charleston/Mason's Apron  - Seamus Egan
14. Lark in the Morning Medley  - Seamus Egan
15. The Lover's Return  - Dudley Connell  - Laurie Lewis
16. The Johnson Boys  - Carroll Best
17. McMitchen's Reel  - Carroll Best
18. Say Old Man, Can You Play the Fiddle?  - Carroll Best
19. Mississippi Sawyer  - Dudley Connell  - Will Keys  - Laurie Lewis
20. Sweet Fern  - Dudley Connell  - Will Keys  - Laurie Lewis
21. On My Mind  - Dudley Connell  - Will Keys  - Laurie Lewis  - Jimmy Trivette
22. Evergreen  - Dudley Connell  - Will Keys  - Laurie Lewis
23. Nobody's Love Is Like Mine  - Dudley Connell  - Tony Ellis  - Laurie Lewis  - Carter Stanley  - Ralph Stanley
24. I Just Think I'll Go Away  - Dudley Connell  - Tony Ellis  - Laurie Lewis  - Carter Stanley  - Ralph Stanley
25. Children Go Where I Send Thee  - Dudley Connell  - Tony Ellis  - Laurie Lewis  - Ralph Stanley  -  Traditional
26. Frailing Medley (I Got a Mule to Ride/Rocky Island/Shout Lulu)  - Dudley Connell  - Tony Ellis  - Laurie Lewis  - Ralph Stanley

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Seleshe Damessae   Primary Artist
Jimmy Trivette   Primary Artist,Bass
Carroll Best   Primary Artist,Banjo
Dudley Connell   Primary Artist,Banjo,Guitar,Vocals
Kirk Sutphin   Primary Artist,Banjo
Ralph Stanley   Primary Artist,Banjo
Seleshe Demessae   Primary Artist,Banjo
Will Keys   Primary Artist,Banjo
Tony Ellis   Primary Artist,Mandolin,Vocals,Banjo
Laurie Lewis   Primary Artist,Vocals,Fiddle,Banjo
Seamus Egan   Primary Artist,Banjo,Flute
John Doyle   Guitar

Technical Credits

Carroll Best   Performer
Dudley Connell   Performer
Joe Wilson   Liner Notes
Carter Stanley   Composer
Seamus Egan   Performer
Ralph Stanley   Performer
Will Keys   Performer
Kirk Sutphin   Performer
Jimmy Trivette   Performer
Jesse Winch   Photography
Laurie Lewis   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Tony Ellis   Performer,Composer
Seleshe Demessae   Performer