Learning To Play Banjo: Emulation vs. Imitation
- Sunday, December 01, 2002 -
RECORDINGS
The recordings listed here should give one a good appreciation of the different banjo playing styles in the mountains. Some excellent liner notes provide insight into the culture that supported the banjo, and to the history of the banjo.
Rounder CD 0439/40 – The North Carolina Banjo Collection
This outstanding 2 CD set was produced by Bob Carlin. The notes are excellent, and give the reader an appreciation of the role of the banjo in North Carolina folk life. Several of the featured performers have CDs of their own. I especially like Ola Belle Reed and Bascom Lamar Lunsford, both of whom have CDs at Smithsonian Folkways.
Smithsonian Folkways – Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia
This compilation of black banjo players recorded between 1974 and 1997 was produced by Cece Conway and Scott Odell, and is extensively annotated with notes about performers’ tunings, lyrics and life histories.
Yazoo 2200 – Kentucky Mountain Music
This 7 CD set is a must for all who love old-time music. Included in the recordings are several Kentucky banjo players playing in different styles. Rufus Crisp is not featured in the recordings, but his CD can be found at Smithsonian Folkways. Pete Steele and Reverend Buell Kazee, who are featured on the recordings, also have CDs at Smithsonian Folkways.
JA OO77 D, June Appal – Banjer Days
This recording has several modern performers playing in different styles, including Will Keys in a wonderful two-finger style and Odus Maggard in a bluesy old-time three-finger picking style.
Note: An abridged version of this article was published in the Banjo Newsletter in February, 2002.
