June 2014 Newsletter

CNYBA News & Notes
www.cnyba.com
Officers
President: Ed VanCott
759 Village Blvd. S. Baldwinsville, NY 13027 (315) 638-7617 evancott@twcny.rr.com
Vice-President: John Brutcher
167 State Route 48 Phoenix, NY 13135
(315) 598-2652 kbrutche@twcny.rr.com
Treasurer: Jim Clark
4175 Seeber Road - Canastota, NY 13032 (315) 697-2719 jimclark@twcny.rr.com
Secretary: Betsy Robson (Editor)
5818 S. Salina St. Syracuse, NY 13205
(267) 893-9422 betsy.robson@gmail.com
Board
Dan Ward - 2 (315) 492-6627
frontenac_island@yahoo.com
Bill Knowlton - 1 (315) 457-6100
udmacon1@hotmail.com
Kay Betts von Sneidern - 3
kbetts@twcny.rr.com (315) 303-4684
Neil Smith -3 nsmith@macenziehughes.com
Bob Hayden (315) -251-4113
rhayden357@windstream.ne
Juergen Knauss - (315) 672-3749
—————————————————
Webmaster: Shirley Stevens
stevenscny@aol.com - (315) 451-2801
Membership & Sunshine:
Helen Weldon 2446 Hillview Dr. #17, Cato, NY
13033 - (315) 626-2603 helwel80@yahoo.com
CNYBA
TRY not to be as surprised as Jethro, when he heard the news…
CNYBA will hold its annual picnic at the Apple
Festival Grounds Route 20 in Lafayette, NY on
August 16th starting at noon. Come for the
picnic, bring covered dish, your pickin’ax,
and some good ole tunes.
Camp from Thursday to Sunday for a full
weekend of jamming in the loveliest setting in
Central New York.
At that time, nominations for officers and
members of the board will be voted on.
“
”
Central New York is bountiful with rich musical talent, born and raised here,
and even attracts more great musicians like bees to a field of sunflowers.
This shining spirit of music in CNY reminds me what the great mystic poet
Khalil Gibran said, “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of
life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” Kirk Vonnegut went as far as to say
the “only proof needed for the existence of God is music!” Yes, truly blessed
we are —whether it’s traditional Bluegrass played by Diamond Someday,
Delaney Brothers Bluegrass, or tunes heard on “the Ramble” radio Sunday
nights, the traditional Gospel heard on Sunday mornings whether on the
south side of Syracuse or in the country churches out of town, barroom
blues, chamber music in the universities, Americana folk, good-ole rock n’
roll, or jazz improv—the rich and diverse
offerings delight our senses and open our
….well, as Maria von Trapp said, “Music is
a magic that opens the most tightly closed
heart.” Even more doubly blessed are we to
have tremendously skilled and talented
musicians play locally who venerate and
hold dear traditional bluegrass enough to
launch forth from it into creative exploration
and expression. Such an explorer is Tony
Trischka, a Syracuse native world-renowned
musician who says “even when I’m playing
weird modern things, I’m still rooted in Earl
Scruggs.” Bill Monroe himself was such an
innovator too, as he wove the great
American threads of Delta blues and Spanish elements into the already quilted mountain roots. Monroe’s fiddler Kenny Baker
photo Ron Anonelli
once remarked that “bluegrass is simply jazz on stringed instruments.” On Friday, May 16th , part of the
Folkus series line-up, Tony Trischka, 2007 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, was joined by an ensemble of
extraordinary young musicians to highlight his latest album Great Big World (Rounder). The group
included Jake Joliff on mandolin from “Joy Kills Sorrow”, bassist extraordinaire Ethan Jodziewicz (a
student of the great Edgar Meyer), John Mailander on fiddle, a recent Berklee College of Music graduate
who studied under Darrel Anger, Grant Gordy who just finished a 6-year stint as the guitarist for David
Grisman (position previously held by Tony Rice). Interspersed with the “weird modern things”, the group
hammered out classics like Sally Gooden, Leaving by Jack Tottle, Angelina Baker, and Bill Monroe’s “I
wonder Where You Are Tonight” sung by Jake, who belted some seriously gorgeous bluegrass vocals. The
group jammed together unrehearsed in its entirety as well as in solos and duets, Ethan played two solo
fiddle tunes on his upright bass, an incredibly delicious rendition of the classic Scruggs Foggy Mountain
Breakdown in fiddle/banjo duet. The session also featured newer Trischka compositions and brilliant
improvisation. Although we’d love for time to stop still, the fact is everything changes somewhat,
somehow, in time. But Bluegrass is far from fading, it’s just expanding, adapting to the world, and being
explored to its depths and breadth and heights, of which we had further glimpses into last Friday. Ricky
Scaggs put it best, “Great music…..is great music, period.” □

CNYBA Community News, Thought & Prayers 
Maxine Cleaveland, CNYBA member and mother of mandolin player Perry Cleaveland, has been in St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse with a malady of infection. Perry says, she is improving and her spirits are
good. Cards can be sent to 821 East Brighton Ave 1704, Syracuse, 13205
Helen Weldon greatly appreciated the many cards while she has been recovering from a fall in which she
fractured her hip. “Mail was the highlight of my day,” said Helen “and there were only 2 days that I didn’t
receive any.” She’s at home now, receiving therapy with a goal to replace her walker with a cane by the
end of May! Helen’s address is 2446 Hillview Dr. #17, Cato, NY 13033.
James Alan Shelton lead guitarist for Ralph Stanley & The Clinch
Mountain Boys has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer.
He will be treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, the
best in the country. He is turning the outcomes over to the Lord and
asks for prayers of support for himself and wife Greta.
Art Benning has been removed from Hospice Care and is getting out
and about again. Our prayers are with him and Lois…wonderful
supporters of CNYBA.
Kay Betts VonSneidern is at home now recovering from new knee
surgery. Cards can be sent to 65 Canton St., B-ville, NY 13027.
Ron and Rose DePuyster came home to the Marcellus area after Ron James Allen Shelton/photo Richard Boyd
was in the hospital in Florida very ill and has been in again since and is back home now with care. Ron and
Rose, long-time members and often seen at jams and other events, need our special prayers and
encouragement. Send cards to Ron and Rose DePeyster, 2036 W. Genesee Rd., Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Lake Effect Bluegrass Band is looking for a Mandolin player willing to do some travel within New York
State and practice once a week. Contact Steve Millett at 315-720-3830 to schedule an audition.
Bill Knowlton announced that this year’s Bluegrass Ramble Picnic (42nd Annual) will be dedicated to
Ray Delaney. August 3rd Dwyer Park Little York NY 10 am to 6 pm
And a hardy welcome to newest member Malcolm “Mac” Claflin from Fulton, NY!!!
A huge thank you to Jurgen Knauss and Bob Hayden for driving up to the Foultz’s in Pulaski and hauling
back CNYBA archive material to Neil Smith’s for storage (who we can also greatly thank).
CNYBA News & Notes
JUNE 2014
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Membership Application for the CENTRAL NEW YORK BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION
Benefits include: Monthly CNYBA News & Notes (except Summer) to learn what’s going on in
the local and wider Bluegrass community, receive discounts at selected CNYBA events, the
satisfaction of supporting bluegrass and old-time country music and encouraging others to join in!
AL NEW YORK BLUEGRASS
NAME___________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS____________________________________CITY________________ST_____ ZIP_____________
PHONE_________________________E-MAIL___________________________________________________
Choose your membership:
 New or  Renewal - Active $10 _____ Senior (62+) $9 _____ Family $15 _____ Band - $20 ____
Gift Certificate: To_____________________________________ From________________________________
What instrument (s) do you play? _____________________________________________________________
Are you with a band(s)?_____________________________________________________________________
Areas/activities you are interested in volunteering for: (check all that apply)
Publicity ____ Mentoring ____ Performing ____ Fund-raising ____ Other (explain) ___________________
Please mail your re/membership form to our Membership Coordinator & Chair of Sunshine…
Ms. Helen Weldon - 2446 Hillview Dr. #17 - Cato, NY 13033 (until September)
If you have stories about Ray Delaney please
take 10 or 20 minutes to jot them down
or just give me a call and I can write them up.
Memories of Ray Delaney will be featured in the July/August 2014 edition of the CNYBA
News & Notes - Ray passed on April 14 after a noble and grace-filled experience with cancer.
Please volunteer your memories/brief stories about Ray Delaney
letter, phone, or email to Betsy Robson, 5818 South Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13205
(267) 893-9422 betsy.robson@gmail.com
 SEND BY JUNE 18TH 
Events
Sun. June 8 –Dana & Karrie Armstrong will host a Marcellus Jam Hoe-Down 4150 Stevens Rd off
Pleasant Valley Rd (seemingly Marcellus, officially Syracuse) 1:30 til ? $2 grilled meat gratis / bring a dish

rd
Sat. June 7 -23 Annual Bluegrass on the Green – Main St. Homer, NY 12-6 pm Free Rain or Shine
Thurs. June 19 –Little Roy & Lizzie - Lavonia United Methodist Church, Lavonia, NY. 7 pm $15 at door
/ $12 advanced Contact Paul J. Stark (585) 229 2366 for tickets
Do yourself a favor catch the Mark Alnatt Band this Summer Exceptional banjo player & fantastic band
Sun. July 13 –Wellsley Island Summer Series - Densmore Church Wellsley Island, NY 7 pm – 8:15 pm
Wed. July 23 –Betts Branch Library 4862 S. Salina St. 6:30-7:45 pm
Sat. August 9 – Amber Community Center, 2223 Amber Rd. Marietta, NY 7 – 8:30 pm
CNYBA News & Notes
JUNE 2014
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Central New York Bluegrass Association
P.O. Box 491
Baldwinsville, NY 13027 USA
PRST STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO.1
AUBURN NY
Remember to check your
membership renewal date!
Watercolors from artist Dennis Andrukat
CNYBA News & Notes
JUNE 2014
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