Country Blues > Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop
Port Townsend Post-soak/Decompression
Bill Roggensack:
Frank:
Tell us more about Clifftop. There was a rumour going around the PTCBW could be moved back to late June in 2005. It is being held a week later in 2004, starting the first week of August.
Will that make it easier for you to return to Port Townsend? Maybe as faculty? Hint, hint .....
Cheers,
FrontPage
frankie:
Well, I guess I spent most of my time chasing my kids around the camp... Still, there was a lot of amazing music to hear, even if I didn't get to play as much as I would have liked (which is a lot more than I could have realistically expected, admittedly). I entered the banjo competition for the first time and while I didn't place, I did get lots of support from people who are kind of my heroes: Walt Koken, Marvin Gaster, Pete Peterson. I played a banjo version of Muddy Waters "I Be's Troubled". It was fun, but I'm sure that I disqualified myself because it's not a traditional tune. You can hear an early version of it here:
http://www.donegone.net/sounds/i_cant_be_satisfied.mp3
I think I play it a bit better now, but it should give you an idea.
As for PTCBW next year, I'm thinking that we'll forego Clifftop next year and make PT the big vacation. I'm not sure if we'll bring the kids, but I'd love for Kim to go - her fiddling is really starting to take shape. It'd be nice if Suzy Thompson was there again (hint, hint, hint!).
Anyway - gotta go get the chillens in bed!
frankie:
Plus - enough about Clifftop... I wanna hear more about PT!
Slack:
Hey Frank, good to hear from you!
The blues banjo sounds great, I would have voted for you! ;)
PT was packed with activities and has been the last few years, which I think is great but has the disadvantage of limiting playing together. I was getting up at 7:15am and going to bed around 1:30am (although one night I had to retire at 12:30 in order to recover from staying up till 3:30 the night before).... and I regret missing those 6 hours each day! We were supposed to have a Weenie SC meeting on Monday at 11, the dead day, couldn't get to it!
I enjoyed Andy Cohen, a varied Repertoire - a vaudvillian (if that is a word) songster, effusive, high energy and very funny. Brought a 50's Epiphone hybrid (archtop guitar with a flat top!).. that he liked a lot.
I enjoyed David Evans. He had no one show up in is first class, but by Wed. had 25-30 in his afternoon workshop. He gave informal scholarly talks and he is a great player. Played a very modern looking Dobro reso, which was really a contrast to the old , very country style of playing.... but lots of variation in his playing and the clanging Dobro reso suited his style perfectly - he was great!
I enjoyed Lightin' Wells, (party in a box!) - great last minute addition. His NC drawl, evil grin and wicked laugh were infectious. Superb Uke playing of some great old and funny songs, (he plays everything as far as I can tell) = one great time. There were several others that were itching to play during Lauren's happy hour - the Uke ruled!
I really enjoyed JohnM's and Ari's intmate evening concert. Swapping songs in very relaxed fashion -- JohnM's arrangements and originals contrasted with Ari's perfectly executed classics made for a great evening. I tell ya, there are a lot of quick, dry wits and smart-a's at PT - but I think I'm safe to say that no one can hold a candle to the lightening quick wit of Ari on or off the stage! The deftness with which he flushed a drunken harp player - was a thing to behold.
.... more later. I've got a few photos to post (who has time to take photos!), which I'll do this weekend. Will also try to figure out how to do a different background in the photo gallery (no guarantees) as it is tough to read..
cheers,
slack
Slack:
...also. Encourage Ted to do PT, he would find much enthusiasm for his Stella 12 Strings. Steve James was gushing about his Ralph Brown stella 12- string - I did not see it or here it up close, but they are supposed to be top rate. http://www.hlmusic.com/ralphBowngtrs.htm
cheers,
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