Nice jam last time, everyone!
Well, it turned out that our little Face-book discussion on the various uses of a banjo in the colder climes was prophetic. It started snowing halfway through the last jam, and by the time we left at 1:30, I needed all my instruments to get home... it must've made for some interesting tracks, wearing a banjo on one foot and a dobro on the other!
Karen, who made it in from the 'burbs, has the right answer for handling winter - 2 trained kids, who shovel for cheap - she always gets here. Hmmmm... I've got to get me one of those! Where do you get them? Do they come with shovels, or do I have to buy them separately?
Thinking ahead to the spring, as I'm sure most of you are by now, Paddy's owner Steve has announced the celebrations surrounding the 25th anniversary of Paddy Reilly's Music Bar will take place during March and April. For our part, we'll be having no jam on April 18th - instead mark your calendar for a special fun event for our jam participants - a Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase Night. More details forthcoming.
As for the latest jam, I can't help but think that my wife, Sarah, was a bit of a star - starting off doing a duet with Phyllis on "Please Help Me I'm Falling", following it up with Ralph Stanley's "The Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Dawn", and finishing with a rockin' version of "I Asked For Water" (Chester Burnett via Lucinda Williams - herself a major song-writing talent, just ask our Cynthia).
Dan, graciously giving up his bass for long periods to Robert and Joe, made good use of his down time, grabbing a Martin and playing lead on Cynthia's version of "Poor, Poor, Pitiful, Me". Cynthia however, didn't need any help on Hank's "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You".
AJ, hosting the early part of the evening got things rolling with Johnny Cash's "Big River" and Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain".
He had lots of help early on. Judy led a couple of good blues numbers, while Jon kept the bluegrass fires burning with "On & On", before giving us "Rosalie McFall". (Neither him, nor AJ, can seemingly go through a night without a Dead tune...)
Bill ("Mr. Emeritus") used Dan's rockabilly bass for Elvis' "All Shook Up", and Reno and Smiley's "Love, Please Come Home".
Newbie Susie kept it coming with her own version of "The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and a another good one - "Runaway Train".
Scotty, as usual, was ever vigilant in his pursuit of "Beyond" - but after an early scare with a song by Bread, came back down to Earth with Don Reno's "Long Gone".
"Banjo" Mike handled the later hosting chores, and after making sure that everyone else had gone, unleashed a barrage of his greatest hits - Tom Adam's "The Village Bear", Bill Monroe's "Kentucky Mandolin" and Richard Underwood's "Newton Grove" - all in the course of an hour! Chris behind the bar, was seen pulling out the CPR kit - just in case.
By the way, Craig, I know you were there, but since I can't remember any of your songs from Monday, I will compliment you on "The Hobo Song" that you led at Tony's jam on Sunday.
We had some late arriving first-timers as well, Corby gave us "Way Downtown" and Casey, besides some fine flat-picking sang "The Cuckoo" and "Down In The Willow Garden" (anyone that picks on a sunburst Martin always gets my attention!). They were still there (along with Jon, Bill, Mike, Scotty, Craig and myself at 1:30 - so they must've enjoyed themselves...).
And finally, just because I let AJ and "Banjo" Mike do all the work at B & B, don't think for a moment that I was relaxing. I got everybody "All Prayed Up" early on, got the bar "Running Down A Dream" midway through the evening - and fell in love with my wife all over again when "I Saw Her Standing There"!
Oh, did I mention that owner Steve was still there at 1:30 as well, buying drinks for everyone? Combined with my naturally declining memory skills and staying out late on work nights, having people buy you drinks in the early morning (see Tony from last jam) is probably not the most conducive for blog writing...
But it sure is fun trying!
Well, it turned out that our little Face-book discussion on the various uses of a banjo in the colder climes was prophetic. It started snowing halfway through the last jam, and by the time we left at 1:30, I needed all my instruments to get home... it must've made for some interesting tracks, wearing a banjo on one foot and a dobro on the other!
Karen, who made it in from the 'burbs, has the right answer for handling winter - 2 trained kids, who shovel for cheap - she always gets here. Hmmmm... I've got to get me one of those! Where do you get them? Do they come with shovels, or do I have to buy them separately?
Thinking ahead to the spring, as I'm sure most of you are by now, Paddy's owner Steve has announced the celebrations surrounding the 25th anniversary of Paddy Reilly's Music Bar will take place during March and April. For our part, we'll be having no jam on April 18th - instead mark your calendar for a special fun event for our jam participants - a Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase Night. More details forthcoming.
As for the latest jam, I can't help but think that my wife, Sarah, was a bit of a star - starting off doing a duet with Phyllis on "Please Help Me I'm Falling", following it up with Ralph Stanley's "The Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Dawn", and finishing with a rockin' version of "I Asked For Water" (Chester Burnett via Lucinda Williams - herself a major song-writing talent, just ask our Cynthia).
Dan, graciously giving up his bass for long periods to Robert and Joe, made good use of his down time, grabbing a Martin and playing lead on Cynthia's version of "Poor, Poor, Pitiful, Me". Cynthia however, didn't need any help on Hank's "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You".
AJ, hosting the early part of the evening got things rolling with Johnny Cash's "Big River" and Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain".
He had lots of help early on. Judy led a couple of good blues numbers, while Jon kept the bluegrass fires burning with "On & On", before giving us "Rosalie McFall". (Neither him, nor AJ, can seemingly go through a night without a Dead tune...)
Bill ("Mr. Emeritus") used Dan's rockabilly bass for Elvis' "All Shook Up", and Reno and Smiley's "Love, Please Come Home".
Newbie Susie kept it coming with her own version of "The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and a another good one - "Runaway Train".
Scotty, as usual, was ever vigilant in his pursuit of "Beyond" - but after an early scare with a song by Bread, came back down to Earth with Don Reno's "Long Gone".
"Banjo" Mike handled the later hosting chores, and after making sure that everyone else had gone, unleashed a barrage of his greatest hits - Tom Adam's "The Village Bear", Bill Monroe's "Kentucky Mandolin" and Richard Underwood's "Newton Grove" - all in the course of an hour! Chris behind the bar, was seen pulling out the CPR kit - just in case.
By the way, Craig, I know you were there, but since I can't remember any of your songs from Monday, I will compliment you on "The Hobo Song" that you led at Tony's jam on Sunday.
We had some late arriving first-timers as well, Corby gave us "Way Downtown" and Casey, besides some fine flat-picking sang "The Cuckoo" and "Down In The Willow Garden" (anyone that picks on a sunburst Martin always gets my attention!). They were still there (along with Jon, Bill, Mike, Scotty, Craig and myself at 1:30 - so they must've enjoyed themselves...).
And finally, just because I let AJ and "Banjo" Mike do all the work at B & B, don't think for a moment that I was relaxing. I got everybody "All Prayed Up" early on, got the bar "Running Down A Dream" midway through the evening - and fell in love with my wife all over again when "I Saw Her Standing There"!
Oh, did I mention that owner Steve was still there at 1:30 as well, buying drinks for everyone? Combined with my naturally declining memory skills and staying out late on work nights, having people buy you drinks in the early morning (see Tony from last jam) is probably not the most conducive for blog writing...
But it sure is fun trying!
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
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