Saturday, August 1, 2026
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
///////
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/
///////
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.
///////
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




