Topic: 2004 Instructor Line Up. News yet?

[Reso1]

Okay, I can't wait any longer. One of the reasons I joined this goup was to get early "insider" info on who would be teaching at PTCBW.

The weather has been crappy up here in Sitka lately, so the idea of next summer's blues camp keeps me going!!

So for those of you in the "know," any prelim news "leaks" yet?

Thanks,

Lee, in windy, damp, cold Sitka Alaska winter time.

 

[waxwing]

Hey Lee,
Well, it looks like Del Rey and Steve James will not be with us. They've gone the way of Orville Johnson and were recently posted as instructors at the IGS camp in Seattle, which essentially starts up Friday evening of our week at PT. Still possible I guess, if they skip performing on the weekend. I hope there's still a good jugband contingent.
All for now.
John C.

[Slack]

Lee, the only thing I've heard is that Phil Wiggins will be the 'Aritstic Director' (they have apparently split director roles for next year) - so I'll bet the line up will be great.

cheers,
JohnD

[Reso1]

Thanks John C & John D! I like all, am just anxious to find out who'll be  there next year. Helps get me through the winter besides my wife, coffee, and guitars.

Lee in Sitka

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Just thought I'd report, since you were interested, Lee, I received a phone call from Phil Wiggins this morning, and  I will be on staff at Port Townsend next summer.  I was in the middle of a rehearsal when he called, and so didn't quiz him about who else was going to be on staff, but as John D. and John C. have observed, I'm sure he will do a great job.  I'm already looking forward to Camp and thinking about classes/workshops.
Al best,
John

[Peter McCracken]

Hi all - I apologize for not reporting sooner re. some of your questions. Since the weenies switched to the new format I have not been as diligent or proactive in joining conversations, etc.

Workshop update - Phil Wiggins will indeed be the new artistic director of the PTCBW, and I will serve as program manager. I'm feeling very excited about this, as I think it's time that the workshop had a new "voice." Phil has a great excitement about his expanded role, and many new and fresh ideas. He's been terrific to work with, very collaborative; his insider's view of the gathering, as well as his professional and personal contacts in the music world, is sure to make a serious impact on your-alls salivary glands.

Committed this year (guitar) are Louisiana Red, Honeyboy Edwards, John Miller, Eddie Pennington (I understand you might think this a stretch, but think of his thumb), and Mary Flower. There's also a van driving out from the D.C area with Warner Williams and Jay Summerhour (Cephas/Wiggins style duet). In the van will be Drink Small from South Carolina. These folks just won't fly.

Also Daryl Davis (piano), Rich DelGrosso, and Suzy Thompson. Hopefully Lightnin' as well. Others - I'll do my best to let you know.
 
And yes, I am a father again, little girl named Gillian Faith. Domestic Bliss around here.

Can barely wait to see you all again.

Best,

Peter

[Slack]

Great hearing from you Pete!

Sounds like a great start on the PT lineup!  

Congratulations on the program managerialship!

And triple the congratulations on becoming a father again!  (and here I thought only hollywood movie stars had kids late in life. ;-)  And I hope I'll be around to commiserate on that second round of teenagerhood!)

cheers,
slack

[Johnm]

Hi Pete,
Let me add my thanks for the update to those of John D.  I'm really excited about Louisiana Red being on staff.  He was at the European Blues Association camp I taught at in 2002, and he was just an ace.  He's a really friendly guy, a tremendous singer, and a fine guitarist who is a student of the music.  He's a demon for attribution, who will play a lick and say, "Here's how Elmore James did it.", then, "Here's how Robert Nighthawk did it", etc.  On several occasions I heard him playing and practicing the guitar at 7:30 in the morning.  I'm also glad to hear that Warner Williams will be there.  I've heard nothing but great things about his playing for several years now, so congratulations to Phil and you for getting him on staff.
Finally, congratulations to you and Sharon for the new addition to your family!  I am looking forward to meeting Gillian Faith before too long.  Take care and try to get some sleep.
All best,
John  

[Noflatpick]

I'm stoked about Eddie Pennington.  That guy is a player DELUXE.  I'm familiar with him from Puget Sound Guitar Camp.  He might not fall into the narrow scope of "country blues" but the guy is a monster picker in the Merle Travis, Mose Rager, Chet Atkins style; the "Muhlenburg Sound."

[Johnm]

I'd like to second your assessment of Eddie Pennington, Noflatpick.  He is a great guitar player, quite possibly the best of the "thumb-pickers" around today.  In addition to which, he is a hell of a nice guy who likes to play with people.  It has been a number of years since he and I were at PSGW at the same time, and I'm looking forward to seeing him and hearing him play again next summer.
All best,
John

[Noflatpick]

John:  Are you familiar with Eddie's son, Alonzo?  I had the pleasure of taking a thumb-picking class from him at PSGW in '99 or 2000.  At that time he was just 19 years old and his mastery of the guitar flat knocked me out.  And just like his dad he's a hell of a nice guy.  Wise and talented beyond his years.

He played for the dance that week at camp on a borrowed Gibson electric and had jaws dropping everywhere when he went into a blazing 5-minute solo doing a Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix rendition that was nothing short of amazing.  He told me one of his goals was to play guitar on Austin City Limits and I have no doubt I'll turn on the TV some Saturday night and see him there.

Later on,
Roger

[Peter McCracken]

I've listened to Eddie a bit, but I've never heard his son. Phil Wiggins wanted to invite him to the workshop (he is as impressed with his musicianship as you, Roger), but it will probably be next year.

Phil has a very intriguing thought - he wants to bring many sorts of related multi-generational musicians to the fray. Precious Bryant and her son, Henry Townsend and Alonzo (remember him?), John Jackson's nephew, etc. - anyone have any ideas along this line?

Happy new year,

Peter

[Johnm]

Hi Peter,
There was a father/son duo from the Virginia Tidewater area named Turner and ? Foddrell, who played really nice East Coast Blues on guitar and electric bass.  They were good friends of John Jackson.  I'm pretty sure the dad, Turner, passed away a couple of years ago, but there may be an uncle or uncles who play guitar.  I'm pretty sure Phil knows these folks, and would know if it is a possibility.  I'll try and think of some more possibilities.
All best,
John
 

[waxwing]

Took a workshop with Mary Flower and Woody Mann this weekend past. Had a class and a session with Mary and I really got a lot out of it. She taught some songs in E (Blake's Depression Has Gone From Me and Carl Martin's Crow Jane and some others). She also taught a class in drop D and DG but I was picking up some good rhythmic left hand damping techniques from Woody that morning. I saw her do some good lap slide, too. Mary is looking forward to PT and asked about a forum so I told her about WCB, of course. She laughed when I told her the name. I guess she was last at PT just before I started coming. Welcome to WCB if you're reading this Mary. I told her about some of the folks who are also committed and she was pretty exited. Any further word from Peter??
Could I be getting PT Fever already?
All for now.
John C.

[Peter McCracken]

Well, here's what it's lookin' like - Eddie Pennington, Drink   Small, Warner Williams, Lou. Red, David   Edwards, John Cephas, John Miller, Del Rey, Mary Flower, Lightnin Wells, and Eric Freeman will be mostly teaching guitar.

Michael   Frank, Jay Summerhour, and Phil on harp.

Daryl Davis and Dennis Binder teaching piano.

Rich Del Grosso - mostly mando, and Suzy Thompson - mostly fiddle.

Also, a very interesting woman from the Congo (currently living in New Mexico) named Mbiba Bainge will be teaching traditional dance and song from her country.

I think there will be a few others, too. Hope this looks interesing to you!

Best, Peter

[Bill Roggensack]

Peter:
I think I may have suggested finding someone who could do rhythms and percussion (improvised or simple 'instruments') to go along with authentic country blues. IM(ns)HO, this would be a great addition to PTCBW- as you know, most of us are working at cultural capacity to clap on the 2 and 4! One group I have seen in workshop settings that really works this theme is Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. They would also be great on the vocal end of things. Their schedule for 2004 is already full for the PTCBW week (Edmonton Folk Music Festival, which I will have to miss for the first time in 15 years), but they may be worth looking at for 2005.
http://www.culturalheritagechoir.com/

[Buzz]

Peter:

Sounds fabulous to me: I really look forward to more of Rich Del Grosso's mandolin classes. Love what I learned last summer. And Cephas and Wiggins were fabulous in concert, with Rich joining in--great synergy.

I look forward to the new blood to learn from. Can't wait to see and hear Lightnin' Wells again. Give him our e site address so he can join our conversation. Wow: del Grosso in the a.m., John Miller in the p.m.. Gotta get the minidisc machine out and be sure it works, for my sake!

Slack, even at work on this super computer, I can't open and order Johns latest 2 tunes. I want to download them here, copy them to a CD, take them home and play or download them onto the laptop at home. Please check it out. Seems the order now and opening up buttons of the 2 tune sites arent working or are locked. Ta'

Peter, congrats on the new addition. I love little girls, we have a 16 mo old granddaughter living with us, and teaching her stuff is totally cool. Like  extending her hand when I say how do you do, the hand signs of I love You, how to play flying angel, sitting in my lap and banging/playing on the piano!

Slack, can't open the Uke photo site either. Bring a sweet one to PT that I can buy, why don't ya'? Claudia bought me a Pignose uke from Costco for $20 for Xmas, but couldn't keep the thing tuned for more than a minute, and the guys at the Subway Music store string place advised me to not bother buying nice strings for it---she took the damn thing back. So, I'm in the market for a great sounding hand-built, sweet little lady uke. Gotta get my chops back from the third grade, when I could play Don't Be Cruel, and Five Foot Two.

Bye'
Miller

[Slack]

Slack, even at work on this super computer, I can't open and order Johns latest 2 tunes. I want to download them here, copy them to a CD, take them home and play or download them onto the laptop at home. Please check it out. Seems the order now and opening up buttons of the 2 tune sites arent working or are locked. Ta'

Hi Miller, I'll email you on this.

Slack, can't open the Uke photo site either. Bring a sweet one to PT that I can buy, why don't ya'? Claudia bought me a Pignose uke from Costco for $20 for

Ya get what you pay for. ? the Ebay listing expired, but I updated the link with pictures.? Be happy to bring one. - here is the picture link also.

Cigar Box Ukes

cheers!
JohnD

[markm]

It appears that Robert Lowrey will not be there this year.  Bummer.  Anybody know anything about that?  It is great, however, that Honey Boy will be back.  I was there eveyday with him last year and can't wait to spend more time with him.  Wonderful guy.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Just thinking about Port Townsend coming up.  Two years ago (seems longer), when I taught at my first European Blues Association Country Blues Week, Louisiana Red was on staff and I particularly remember him singing and playing a number of his, "I Had A Dream", that hearkens back to those good old, Cold War, pre-glasnost days.  In it, Red confronts Kruschev and Castro, and advises them on foreign policy issues.  For those of you who will be attending PT, you don't want to go home without hearing Red do "I Had A Dream".
All best,
Johnm