The Beacon, March 2009 - Pacific Bluegrass and Heritage Society

March 2009
The
Beacon
The Foggy Hogtown Boys
at the ANZA
March 30
T
PBHS March/09 at the ANZA
CONTACTS
PBHS Mailing Address:
249 East 24th Ave
Vancouver, BC,V5V 1Z7
THE ANZA CLUB IS LOCATED AT
3 W. 8TH AVE. AT ONTARIO ST. IN VANCOUVER
Cost: $4/members, $6/visitors
Monday, March. 2nd: Slow Pitch
www.pacificbluegrass.bc.ca
with Sue Malcolm & Friends
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Monday, March.9th Regular Jam (PBHS mtg)
Monday, March 16th
Regular Jam
Monday, March. 23th Regular Jam
Monday, March 30th The Foggy Hogtown Boys
Concert at the ANZA- 8 PM
Tickets: $17 members/$20, non’s
PBHS Website:
President:
Kris Boyd
barefootsound@hotmail.com
Treasurer:
Peter Krivel-Zacks
pkz@shaw.ca
604-737-1218
Secretary:
Anne Gilbert
agilbert@capilanou.ca
604-985-3828
Bookings:
Kris Boyd
barefootsound@hotmail.com
Linda Bull
bull.linda@gmail.com
Open Stage:
Mark Vaughan
oldjawbone@gmail.com
Membership:
Jody Kramer
jody_kramer@hotmail.
com
Workshops:
Leah Clark
leahclark1@hotmail.com
Bluegrass Beacon:
Diana E. Sly
diana_sly@yahoo.ca
Cover photo courtesy of the
Foggy Hogtown Boys
Acoustic Music by Rogue Folk Club
St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue, in Kitsilano)
Capilano Performing Arts Theatre (2055 Purcell Way, North Van.)
See www.roguefolk.bc.ca for complete events calendar
Of Special interest to Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Fans
At St James Hall:
Thursday, March 26th: Beppe Gambetta,
with PLOUGH
$20 Rogue/PBHS members
$23 non-members
Workshops Sunday March 22 with Chris Jones’ Band!
‘Just got word from Chris Jones that he, Ivan Rosenberg and Ned
Lubrecki would like to put on a guitar, dobro and banjo workshop
on Sunday the 22nd of March as they will be coming through town.
Word has it that last year the workshops put on by these musicians
were excellent & well attended . These workshops would be held at
homes and would be 1 1/2 hours for $25.00.
To Sign up & For Details Contact
Fred Schiffner: 604 943-0522 or fschiffner@dccnet.com
(this from Leah Clark)
Sorrento Scholarship
March – wind, rain, new shoots in the garden and an
EXCELLENT crop of concerts/workshops to look forward to! (Don’t Forget Beppe Gambetta with Plough
on March 26th!)
Our perennial favourites, the Foggy Hogtown Boys
are coming back to the ANZA on March 30th . You can
count on them for the very finest musicianship, for outstanding vocals and amazing songwriting. Do I sound
like a fan? You betcha!! The FHB’s are Andrew Collins on mandolin, Chris Coole on guitar, Max Heineman on bass, Chris Quinn on banjo & John Showman
on Fiddle.
Chirs Coole tells me that this tour is in support of their
most recent CD “The Golden West”, released last
June, but not yet presented to us westerners. We’re
in for a very special treat: so far, all 3 of their previous
CD’s have been very popular AND critically acclaimed.
When it comes to this band, originality is their byword.
Not surprisingly, Chris let slip that the FHB’s may
introduce a tantalizing, hot-off the-presses tune or two
in their set list.
Coming back to the topic of wind – I’m still winded and
all wound up from the whirlwind of non-stop concerts
and jamming that goes by the name of Wintergrass.
(in the “City of Glass”, Tacoma, WA, Feb. 19-22)
PBHS Annual BCBW Scholarship
The BC Bluegrass Workshops for 2009 have already
opened for registration, and promise another great
year of instruction, concerts, jamming and fun. Each
year, the Pacific Bluegrass & Heritage Society sponsors one society member to go to camp on a scholarship. You are responsible for your own accommodation and meals, but we will sponsor your registration
fee.
If you want to go to camp, but can’t afford to, consider applying for the scholarship. Simply write a
letter and submit it to the Board of the Pacific Bluegrass and Heritage Society stating why you want to
go, your involvement with PBHS, a little information about your financial limitations, and why we
should consider you as a scholarship candidate.
The deadline for application is March 30th, 2009
– send it to Jill Tolliday at jtolliday@telus.net We
will determine the scholarship recipient at our April
board meeting. You must be a current and active
member of the Pacific Bluegrass and Heritage Society to apply.
Ed. note: Jay Buckwold advises anyone who is applying for a scholarship to call Sorrento Centre as
soon as registration opens, to register in the class
they want, and to advise Sorrento that they are applying for the scholarship. Sorrento will waive the
$100 registration fee for scholarship applicants until
the recipient is decided.
The Steeldrivers. undisputedstars of Wintergrass/09, in a
“Meet the Steeeldrivers”
Workshop
The line up: Richard Bailey, on
banjo; Brent Truitt, on mandolin;
Mike Fleming, on bass; & Chris
Stapleton (the VOICE!) on guitar.
After following the the Steeldrivers around from concert to concert and NEVER seeing Chris Stapleton’s
face (on stage he usually hides behind a large Stetson,
wears sunglasses and never looks ‘round) – finally got
a good look at him browsing among the high-end guitars in Hotel Murano’s vendor zone. He good-naturedly
posed for this picture. What a talent! What a voice! Of
course, I wanted to hug him, but Sam wouldn’t let me…
Bluegrass Beacon March/09 Page PBHS FEATURE PROFILE:
Photo courrtesy
BC Bluegrass Workshops
F
or some time now I’ve been pondering how a
relatively simple musical genre like Bluegrass, can
manage to attract and nurture such wide-ranging musical virtuosity. It certainly boggles the mind! Every
instrument in the Bluegrass firmament has outstanding
“stars” – musicians so skilled on their instruments that
they never cease to amaze and inspire -- not only us,
the bluegrass-faithful, but the music-listening world at
large.
As you know, our Vancouver-area has more than its
fair share of such “stars”. If I mention the mandolin,
you’d have to search far and wide to find a musician
more gifted or influential than John Reischman. And
in connection to the Bluegrass guitar, especially flat
picking, we need look no further than our very own
Garry Stevenson – my nomination for this feature
profile.Garry is not only a distinguished and distinctive guitar flat picker himself, he has been getting
scores of us to embark on that never-ending journey
through his dedicated teaching at the BC Bluegrass
Workshops at Sorrento (and, once in a while, as part
of Rosemary Campbell’s Moveable Music School).
From personal experience, I can tell you Garry makes
fiddle tunes on the guitar fun and eminently learnable.
I recollect vividly how he
encouraged us to use his
very clear tabs, not solely
as a tune’s anchor, but as
a springboard for personal
interpretation. Yes, Folks,
I’m talking “improvisation”! (Jazz Brethren, eat
your hearts out!)
Garry Stevenson
ing ing doesn’t start and end in a classroom. Wherever he finds himself, he’s always willing to lend an
encouraging ear or hand to struggling jammers . In
fact, Garry’s the kindest kind of Jam Wrangler, gently
steering the uninitiated toward the accepted Bluegrass
etiquette.. (Wouldn’t it be grand if he could come to
the ANZA every Monday?)
Alas, we don’t see him often enough because he’s
busy in his “other” lives. His work as a civil engineer
who specializes in geo-technical projects often takes
him to far-flung places. Regardless of where he finds
himself, he manages to get the low-down on the local
music scene: on his work-travels, he once stumbled
upon a Bluegrass Band in Bangkok; he’s even jammed
with an Aussie Rock’N’Roll band in Papua New
Guinea!
He’s also a member of Five On A String, a very popular local Bluegrass Band. The photo below shows him
recently performing with band mates, Gordie Sadler,
and Dan Morner, and guest fiddler Hugh Ellenwood,
at “Bluegrass at the Carnegie” organized by John
Ludgate. Not only did Five On A String deliver
top-notch crowd-pleasing Bluegrass in their own right,
but individually and collectively, they helped back up
a couple of the other acts, too. Now ain’t that right
neighbourly?
What’s more, his teachFive On A String (minus one)
at Carnegie, Feb. 11/09
Hugh Ellenwood, guest fiddler;
Gordie Sadler, banjo;
Dan Morner, bass; and
Garry Stevensonon on guitar.
Their Sound? Stellar instrumentation,
Lively vocals, great harmonies!
Bluegrass Beacon March/09 Page T
hose of you who receive the Beacon with your
email have Garry to thank for it. In fact, he’s
a force of nature when it comes to promoting local
acoustic music. He compiles publicity promo’s from
a huge variety of sources and sends the information
out to about 500 contacts on his email list. Actually
he organizes the contact names into an ever-growing
number of multiple lists to get past spam filters.
Heck! That’s a LOT of work! No one pays him to do
this – no one told him to do it. He figured this was
just something that needed to be done…!
When I asked him how it all began, he told me initially all he wanted was to help a past PBHS Board get
the Beacon out to members without mailing it to them.
(He and I are of like mind on that score. I dearly wish
ALL club members would sign up for Garry’s email,
and give up their paper versions. However, until we
have better control of our PBHS web content , Garry’s
email remains the most responsive and accurate source
for up-to-date acoustic music information, including PBHS Club Happenings. To get on board, here’s
Garry’s email: garrystevenson@shaw.ca)
What’s on Garry’s horizon? He’s enjoying playing
up a storm on the mandolin, which he took up a scant
few years ago. Not surprisingly, he’s proficient on it
already, although he maintains his true love is still the
guitar.
When I asked him who his own “guitar gods” were,
he named Tony Rice, Dan Crary and Russ Barenberg.
Garry told me that the Club personality who influenced him the most in his early days with the PBHS,
and set him on the path to good rhythm-playing was
Chris Stevens. (check out Chris’ profile and sample
his music on the CBC’s New Music Canada website:
radio3.cbc.ca/bands/CHRIS-STEVENS/)
As for whom Garry’s listening to these days? He says
Becky Buller, singer, fiddler and songwriter extraordinaire continues to delight him. Other favourites are
3rd Tyme Out, The Breakmen, and Victoria’s Four
Chords of Wood (when he’s hankering for traditional
Bluegrass with a homespun flavour.)
of Garry’s that I was profiling him, she immediately
wanted to know how long he’s been playing the guitar. (I guess we all want to calculate how many years
we have to practice before we can begin to sound
like him – although we can never hope to be BC flatpicking champions three years in a row, like Garry
was: ’90, ’91 & ’92 – the three years there was such
an event.) Garry answered this question indirectly
when he told me he took up the guitar at 13 after
he first heard Doc Watson. Until then he had been
playing the accordion. (Don’t’ chuckle, Folks, even
Bill Monroe is guilty of a few “Accordion Crimes”
himself, having had an accordion player in one of his
early bands).
Garry’s family always encouraged him to play, regardless of the instrument, and filled the house with
a wide range of music: big band era swing, country
and gospel. And like so many fine singers, Garry got
his first exposure to vocal technique and harmony in
church choirs.
As you can see, there are “many” Garry Stevensons.
He’s got enough talent and versatility to fill up multiple boots. Gosh darned, aren’t we privileged to have
him in the Club?
Carnegie photo and article by D. E. Sly
(Also: uncredited photos in this issue).
You could be lucky enough to have Garry Stevenson
as an instructor at Sorrento/09.
Have you signed up for the
BC Bluegrass Workshops yet?
Check their website:
http://www.musicworkshops.ca/
Week 1: August 23 - August 28, 2009
Sorrento Bluegrass Festival: Saturday, Aug. 29, ‘09
Week 2: August 30 - September 4, 2009
When I mentioned to PBHS member, Sue Calvert, a
fellow guitarist and, like me, a former guitar student
Bluegrass Beacon March/09 Page Listen Up!
IN THE PINES
COOP Radio
CFRO 102.7 Vancouver –102.9 Cable
StarChoice Satellite Ch. 845
2:30 -- 4:00 PM Sundays
PACIFIC PICKIN
With Arthur & Andrea Berman
CITR 101.9 FM Vancouver
6:30 -- 8:00 AM Tuesdays
or streamed at: www.citr.ca
UP TOWN BLUEGRASS
With George McKnight
www.uptownbluerass.com
CIGVFM Penticton
6:30 – 7:30 Saturdays
CJFW FM Terrace
9:00 --10:00 PM Wednesdays
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
Hosted by Craig Korth
www.ckua.org
Thursdays 5—6 PM PDT
INTERNET
In i-tunes , look under the FOLK and COUNTRY categories;
Or in www. live365.com, search one of the many BG channels
many stations, especially www.bluegrasscountry.org
BANDS FOR HIRE
Don & Theresa Dirksen
Don: 604 -521- 6595 or
dondirksen@shaw.ca
Mountain Ridge:
Fred Schiffner
fschiffner@dccnet.com
Five On A String
604-931-3765
five_on_string@hotmail.
com
http://home.lynx/net/foas/
Plough
Linda Bull: bull.linda@
gmail.com
Great Northern
Brian Samuels: 604-7324046 or
samco@axionet.com
Hungry Hill
Jenny Lester:
250-847-5001
aaca1@telus.net
John Reischman and the
Jaybirds
John: 604-251-7655
johnreischman@shaw.ca
www.thejaybirds.com
Lakeside Ramblers
George Garbutt: 250-441-3365
gwg@magnet.com
Redgrass:
barefootsound@hotmail.com
Rhythm Roundup
c/o Sue Malcolm:
604-215-2760.
sue@buddy-system.org
www.suemalcolm.com
Still Blue: Colin Goldie:
coling@radiant.com
Story House
Jake de Viliiers:
604-535-7271
www.myspace.com/storyhouse Viper Central:
Mark Vaughan
604 723-0164
vipercentral@gmail.comer
Are you new to PBHS, or is it time to renew your membership?
Address change? Either way,clip the form below and send it in!
Bluegrass Beacon March/09 Page G r a s s i f i e d s
LESSONS
Beginner guitar, voice,
coaching, jamming. with
Sue Malcolm, an experienced teacher, performer,
recording artist and snior
instructor at BC Bluegrass
Workshops, (Sorrento)
Individual or small group
lessons
604-215-2760.or
sue@buddy-system.org
www.suemalcolm.com
Mandolin: all levels
John Reischman at
604- 251-7655 or
johnreischman@shaw.ca
Mandolin and guitar, and
clawhammer/old time
banjo. Learn the music
you love in a friendly, supportive environment. No
theory required, success
with all ages.
Steve Quattrocchi at
604-523-1739
mail arbutusq@yahoo.ca.
For Mandolin, Accordion
and Theory Lessons.
Call Diane Bode
604-684-9479 or
diane4music@shaw.ca
Mandolin, guitar & singing
lessons with Ben Rogalsky
of The Breakmen. Practical
and fun approach for players at any level. We can
focus on any combination of instrumental
technique, singing and
playing, harmony singing or jamming with
other instruments.
benrogalsky@yahoo.ca
778.232.8376
Mandolin Lessons
(beg/int) Learn tunes and
techniques to get the most
out of your bluegrass experience! Call Mark
604-723-0164 or
old.jawbone@gmail.com
Banjo lessons for beginner through advanced
players.
5-string bluegrass banjo,
individual private lessons, given at my studio
in Surrey, BC. See my
web site or contact me
for further details and for
booking lessons.
Sheldon Friesen
http://banjoredhead.
blogspot.com
shfriesen@gmail.com
778-868-6837
Bluegrass Banjo
for all levels: Don Dirksen
604 521-6595 or
dondirksen@shaw.ca
Banjo Lessons
with Nick Hornbuckle.
All levels taught. Just
starting? Advanced &
looking for a little polish in
your picking? Nick has the
knowledge and over 25
years of teaching experience to help.
250-741-0083
nickhornbuckle@hotmail.com
FOR SALE
Interested in learning
guitar or bluegrass banjo?
What about song composition, or harmony singing?
One on one instruction, or
small group (band) lessons.Loads of teaching and
performance experience.
Unbeatable rates. Bring
your band and we’ll work
out some tunes!
Archie Pateman at
604-839-7910 or
parchie@hotmail.com
Fiddle Lessons:
Bluegrass Celtic Old Time
Blues, Swing or Jazz
Call Doug Thorardson
604-251 2973
INSTRUMENTS BUILT OR REPAIRED
Acoustic bass for sale
Great student-grade bass, well constructed, big sound.
Plays well now, with a setup it would do someone for
many years. Includes soft case. $1200
Ben - benrogalsky@yahoo.ca / 778.232.8376
PBHS T-Shirts, Caps, & Jackets
CALL Leah Clark: 604-436-3650
Mandolin Lessons
(beg/int) Learn tunes and
techniques to get the most
out of your bluegrass experience! Call Mark
604-723-0164
or old.jawbone@gmail.com
Instrument set-up & repair of your banjo,bass, mandolin, or
guitar by the only authjorized Santa Cruz Guitar
Company warranty repairman in the area.
Call Jake De Villiers at 604-535-7271
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
Master Craftsman: Extraordinary guitars and mandolins
Laughlin Guitars built in Vancouver.
604-254-4990 or
www.laughlinguitars.ca
WANTED!
The PBHS is looking for a Jam Wrangler -- a seasoned musician and jammer to lead jams on
the ANZA main floor. If interested, please Contact PBHS Board members, especially
president Kris Boyd for more details: barefootsound@hotmail.com
Bluegrass Beacon March/09 Page