Spring gigs in NJ, VT, PA, NY
Also check out the list of blues and slide guitar teaching events!
What's Scott Cooking Tonight?
When I'm NOT on the road I love to cook and feed a crowd around my table. Barb convinced me to start writing about cooking and food. I'm not sure what the blues guys will think of this, but hey.....
It's back! With a new post about a terrific shrimp and corn chowder Scott made last month.
Banjo Gathering CD
This is a double CD set of solo banjo recordings by instructors who have taught old-time banjo at the Swannanoa Gathering over the years. I have three cuts on here: Sugar Babe, A Hammons Piece (that turns out to be a version of 'Calloway'), and Walkin' In the Parlor.
This collection is an intriguing and eminently listenable album of tunes that ranges from the elegantly funky to the sublime. When first approached about a double CD set of solo banjo recordings, I thought this would be a train wreck of a project, but the pacing of the tracks and variety are frankly astounding and you will hear the rhythmic subtlety and melodic beauty of this instrument when it is not backing up a fiddler or buried in a band. I highly recommend this disc.
All profits from its sale go to benefit the Swannanoa Gathering's scholarship fund for young musicians. A good cause and a great collection of performances.
New BluesNotes
Redemption: Reconstructing the South
Rudiments of Slide: Left Hand Posture
A new pdf file has been added to the guitar resources page. Download this pdf for Scott's words of wisdom on playing slide guitar.
Actin' Up: Juke Joint & Holy Blues
Renowned guitarist Ernie Hawkins and I are developing an evening of acoustic blues stories and songs focusing on the music of Reverend Gary Davis and Robert Johnson, among others. We are rehearsing in early December and will travel to D.C. for an interview with Bill Wax of XM Radio for his Bluesville programs. Promotional onesheet on Actin' Up: Joint & Holy Blues
Delta Blues Guitar Secrets
Now Available on DVD
Brattleboro, VT (November 24, 2005) Eric Clapton called him, “The most important blues musician who ever lived.” The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richard, and Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page cited him as a formative influence. Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson died in 1938, but his recordings continue to inspire rock and blues musicians. Now, his guitar techniques are influencing the wired generation in a new DVD lesson, Robert Johnson (Hal Leonard Guitar Signature Licks, 2005) taught by blues musician and historian Scott Ainslie, available in stores and online at cattailmusic.com. read more
R. Montgomery writes: "Scott: your Robert Johnson DVD is the best instructional video I have seen. I only recently discovered Johnson and "delta blues" and now I can't get enough. Your instruction is great, particulary since I only play by ear."
Don't Obey: Anthem to Non-Violence
You can still download a full mp3 of Don't Obey which is on a list of anti-war songs on Neil Young's website and is included along with 2 other songs from The Feral Crow in the Political Song Archive at Caledonian University in Glasgow, Scotland.