I just got around to updating the names and info for those 5 banjo pieces from several weeks ago. Read about them on the Music page.

Also, i added a few more songs that jon and i recorded the other day. Jon is really developing his talents on the banjo; I recall back when he first got it (see early tiny mention on blog here), and we both loved the sound but couldn’t play many pieces that were actually meant for banjo. However, since then he has been working on clawhammer technique and has obviously learned several simple pieces. While recording these pieces the other day, i was able to observe the level of proficiency that jon has achieved, and it is very impressive to me as a musician and as his friend. As an added bonus, my interest in recording will allow him to showcase his talents in a high fidelity recording to be preserved for his family and future family. this justification is worth far more than the cost of my equipment or time. So, here’s some more music:

Banjo + Guitar jam (5.1MB mp3) – A mountain-music jam! dave on guitar, jon on banjo, of course. all we need is a washtub-bass player and maybe a fiddler. all applicants please post U.S. mail by August 1, 1890 to this address: Bayou Brothers, Rte. 4 Blue Ridge Mtns. VA 24064

Banjo Improvisation (5.8MB mp3) – minor-key improvisation. a fascinating banjo piece that seems to have Asian and Eastern influences, but played on a distinctly American instrument. solo banjo performed by Jon Breaux.

Scotland The Brave (995kB mp3) – in g tuning, an old tune that came to america via the scots/irish immigrations (who also settled the blue ridge mountains, modern day appalachia). solo banjo performed by Jon Breaux.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

i have a few random things to post here in the music section. I wanted to wait until i got more stuff together, specifically from jon breaux’s banjo, but what’s the point in keeping a good thing all to yourself?

A couple weeks ago jon and i got to go back to Laf and attempt to record some songs from dad’s folk song collection. We didn’t get very far on that endeavor. having an unavoidably late start at about 4 pm on saturday didn’t help. The most productive thing we got out of that session was some recordings by Jon Breaux playing solo on his banjo. solo instrumentals are usually very engaging to listen to, and i hope you’ll agree. i love the tones and the sounds in these recordings. Jon’s banjo is a fairly nice midrange model. i looked online and through my collection of music for some banjo music after i recorded these songs, just to compare the tones from my recordings to other “studio” mass-market recordings. I have to say that i prefer my recordings of jon’s banjo sounds to any others that i found. Very natural, very quiet, very smooth. and the songs are good too! like i said, i hope to get more banjo recordings out of jon in the near future.

Banjo1 (1.5MB mp3)
Banjo2 (1.2MB mp3)
Banjo3 (1.0MB mp3)
Banjo4 (1.2MB mp3)
Banjo5 (1.2MB mp3)

jon, email me the names and maybe a little description for these songs, wouldja!

Back when we were recording the GMC’s, we had a couple of good jam sessions. I’ve used them mainly to practice my mixing skills, and i’m posting them now just because i can. I’m playing guitar and jon is on drums. While mixing, i added in a little bass guitar track to sit in the background and help glue things together.

Face Punch (8.7MB AAC) – this is a goofy little driving rock improvisation (is that even possible?) that sometimes feels like a punch in the face. Ok, maybe less like a punch in the face and more like lodging a baseball bat into fresh drywall. Alright, scratch that… less destructive or painful. Think of graduating from high school and taking your first solo road trip with your friends. Maybe this song should be called Asphalt. Anyways there are a couple of mis-steps and it was really just a warm-up jam. All i know is, it sounds killer when you turn the volume up.
Apple Pie (7.4MB AAC) – this is a slow little soulful improvisation that starts pretty horribly. i put in about 2 good riffs somewhere near the middle and end, but everything else is pretty much me fuddling around on the guitar. it jumps around and lacks direction and is nearly unlistenable. the whole thing is kind of one big, sweeping mistake. i don’t even know why i posted it. i mean, maybe one day i’ll try to do something with those 2 riffs. but this just sucks. enjoy!

And finally, I did a little re-mix of the GMC-Country using the original recording tracks. however, since i lost my vocal tracks in the hard drive crash, this one is being posted as a SINGALONG! Yayyy!!! grab your songbooks!

GMC-singalong (2.8MB mp3)

lyrics:
good morning, coffee
i need a lift
if i don’t get some, my mind will drift
your sharp aroma will start my day
and take the foolish things i did last night away

i tried to please her
i did my best
she didn’t love me, like all the rest
once again, i tried to hard and stayed too long
but she knew that everything i did would turn out wrong

good morning, coffee
another cup
this time with whiskey, just fill ‘er up
cause i can still recall her judging face
and now it’s smiling for another in my place