Showing posts with label banjo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label banjo. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Elmer Snowden • Harlem Banjo!

 

 



Review
by Scott Yanow
Banjoist Elmer Snowden only led two albums in the LP era, and his OJC CD reissue is his best showcase. Snowden, who is joined by pianist Cliff Jackson, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Jimmy Crawford, is the lead voice throughout the dozen standards, all of which date from the 1920s or '30s. Snowden's banjo style is a lost art, and this is his definitive recording.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/harlem-banjo-mw0000319372


Biography
by Scott Yanow
A fine banjo player, Elmer Snowden was the original leader of the Washingtonians, a group that would become the Duke Ellington Orchestra; a dispute over money in the mid-'20s soon found him "at liberty." Snowden had met Ellington in 1919 and before that he had worked with Eubie Blake in Baltimore. He was quite active in the 1920s as a businessman, agent, and musician, running several bands and recording occasionally. But, although he worked steadily in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, he was essentially a minor figure during those years. In 1963, Snowden moved to California to teach at Berkeley, he toured Europe with George Wein in 1967, and made a few final recordings.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elmer-snowden-mn0000177953/biography

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Reseña
por Scott Yanow
El banjoista Elmer Snowden sólo dirigió dos álbumes en la era del LP, y su reedición en CD de la OJC es su mejor escaparate. Snowden, al que acompañan el pianista Cliff Jackson, el bajista Tommy Bryant y el batería Jimmy Crawford, es la voz principal a lo largo de la docena de estándares, todos ellos de los años veinte o treinta. El estilo del banjo de Snowden es un arte perdido, y ésta es su grabación definitiva.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/harlem-banjo-mw0000319372


Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Excelente intérprete de banjo, Elmer Snowden fue el líder original de los Washingtonians, grupo que se convertiría en la Orquesta de Duke Ellington; una disputa por dinero a mediados de los años 20 pronto le encontró "en libertad". Snowden había conocido a Ellington en 1919 y antes había trabajado con Eubie Blake en Baltimore. Estuvo bastante activo en la década de 1920 como hombre de negocios, agente y músico, dirigiendo varias bandas y grabando ocasionalmente. Pero, aunque trabajó de forma constante en los años 30, 40 y 50, fue esencialmente una figura menor durante esos años. En 1963, Snowden se trasladó a California para dar clases en Berkeley, realizó una gira por Europa con George Wein en 1967 e hizo unas últimas grabaciones.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elmer-snowden-mn0000177953/biography


Tuesday, February 4, 2025

VA • True Bluegrass Instrumentals

 

 



From its earliest days there has always been a premium placed on instrumental prowess in Bluegrass music, and to hear one amazing tune after another is truly invigorating and inspiring. That is the nature of this superb compilation that highlights some of the finest performances from Rebel Records’ long history. With stunning examples that feature lead guitar, banjo, mandolin and/or fiddle, there’s more than enough variety here to warrant many repeated plays. The 20 tunes include gems by Tony Rice, Seldom Scene, Ralph Stanley, Kenny Baker, J.D. Crowe, Jimmy Arnold, Norman Blake, Whitley & Skaggs, Don Reno and Josh Graves among others. Besides the obvious gems like Black Jack, Orange Blossom Special, Billy In The Low Ground (Tony Rice) and Bill Emerson’s Home Sweet Home, there are some “sleepers” like Cody Kilby’s St. Anne’s Reel, Richard Greene’s Little Rabbit and a lovely two guitar treatment of Old Spinning Wheel by Charlie Waller & Randall Hylton.
https://rebelrecords.com/albums/compilations/rebel-8003/

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Desde sus inicios, la música Bluegrass siempre ha concedido una gran importancia a la destreza instrumental, y escuchar una melodía asombrosa tras otra es realmente estimulante e inspirador. Esa es la naturaleza de esta magnífica compilación que destaca algunas de las mejores interpretaciones de la larga historia de Rebel Records. Con ejemplos asombrosos que incluyen guitarra solista, banjo, mandolina y/o violín, hay aquí variedad más que suficiente para justificar muchas reproducciones repetidas. Los 20 temas incluyen joyas de Tony Rice, Seldom Scene, Ralph Stanley, Kenny Baker, J.D. Crowe, Jimmy Arnold, Norman Blake, Whitley & Skaggs, Don Reno y Josh Graves entre otros. Además de las joyas obvias como Black Jack, Orange Blossom Special, Billy In The Low Ground (Tony Rice) y Home Sweet Home de Bill Emerson, hay algunos "sleepers" como St. Anne's Reel de Cody Kilby, Little Rabbit de Richard Greene y un precioso tratamiento a dos guitarras de Old Spinning Wheel de Charlie Waller & Randall Hylton.
https://rebelrecords.com/albums/compilations/rebel-8003/


Thursday, December 5, 2024

Stable Roof Jazzband • Ramblin' Around

 



La Stable Roof Jazz Band lleva años en la cima del jazz tradicional holandés. La gente en el extranjero, especialmente en Alemania, también aprecia la banda.

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The Stable Roof Jazz Band has been at the top of traditional Dutch jazz for years. People abroad, especially in Germany, also appreciate the band.


www.stableroof.nl ...



Colaborador / Contributor:  peer57


Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Elmer Snowden • Harlem Banjo!

 



Review
by Scott Yanow
Banjoist Elmer Snowden only led two albums in the LP era, and his OJC CD reissue is his best showcase. Snowden, who is joined by pianist Cliff Jackson, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Jimmy Crawford, is the lead voice throughout the dozen standards, all of which date from the 1920s or '30s. Snowden's banjo style is a lost art, and this is his definitive recording.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/harlem-banjo-mw0000319372


Biography
by Scott Yanow
A fine banjo player, Elmer Snowden was the original leader of the Washingtonians, a group that would become the Duke Ellington Orchestra; a dispute over money in the mid-'20s soon found him "at liberty." Snowden had met Ellington in 1919 and before that he had worked with Eubie Blake in Baltimore. He was quite active in the 1920s as a businessman, agent, and musician, running several bands and recording occasionally. But, although he worked steadily in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, he was essentially a minor figure during those years. In 1963, Snowden moved to California to teach at Berkeley, he toured Europe with George Wein in 1967, and made a few final recordings.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elmer-snowden-mn0000177953/biography

///////


Reseña
por Scott Yanow
El banjoista Elmer Snowden sólo dirigió dos álbumes en la era del LP, y su reedición en CD de la OJC es su mejor escaparate. Snowden, al que acompañan el pianista Cliff Jackson, el bajista Tommy Bryant y el batería Jimmy Crawford, es la voz principal a lo largo de la docena de estándares, todos ellos de los años veinte o treinta. El estilo del banjo de Snowden es un arte perdido, y ésta es su grabación definitiva.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/harlem-banjo-mw0000319372


Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Excelente intérprete de banjo, Elmer Snowden fue el líder original de los Washingtonians, grupo que se convertiría en la Orquesta de Duke Ellington; una disputa por dinero a mediados de los años 20 pronto le encontró "en libertad". Snowden había conocido a Ellington en 1919 y antes había trabajado con Eubie Blake en Baltimore. Estuvo bastante activo en la década de 1920 como hombre de negocios, agente y músico, dirigiendo varias bandas y grabando ocasionalmente. Pero, aunque trabajó de forma constante en los años 30, 40 y 50, fue esencialmente una figura menor durante esos años. En 1963, Snowden se trasladó a California para dar clases en Berkeley, realizó una gira por Europa con George Wein en 1967 e hizo unas últimas grabaciones.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elmer-snowden-mn0000177953/biography