Wow! We were right in the midst of a wild jam session on Thursday evening. In answer to questions from several of our friends; Yes, Gary was able to conquer his jitters and join in.
We walked up to a cozy corner protected from the wind by tarps strung between two RV’s. There were half a dozen people sitting around a “dryer drum stove” a picking and a singing bluegrass. We watched three or four songs and somehow they finally got me to admit I played “a little guitar.” Suddenly I was handed a guitar and I was expected to name a song. I launched into “Frauline,” and started stumbling over the chords. After two or three songs I managed to get my butterflies all flying in formation. I begged off long enough to run home and get my own guitar and settled in to learn the ropes. The group started off with a guitar, a banjo, a fiddle and bass. I brought a second guitar and we played that way for over an hour. A second fiddle player joined in just before supper was served. This lady fiddler the bass player and I provided the dinner music. We alternated between fiddle breakdowns and some of my folk music for about half an hour.
After supper more players started showing up. We gained another fiddle player, two more guitarists a dobro player and a fellow with a bag of harmonicas. I had to learn some new tricks like playing with a capo. This is a device that stops the strings on the guitar at any fret. You then use your favorite chord fingerings to play in other keys. I play that way occasionally, but never with others. The tricky part was forgetting the normal fingering for a chord you want to play and to play the substitute fingering instead. I was getting in some wild chord changes trying to keep up.
It is now two days later and we have Bluegrass growing out of our ears, so to speak. Listening to fabulous bands by day and jamming with all levels of players by night. These folks are incredibly friendly, kind and outgoing people. Now Judy and I enjoy Dixieland Jazz, and it is wonderful upbeat music. When we attend these festivals the folks that are playing and enjoying the music are for the most part senior to ourselves, some by a considerable margin. The beautiful thing about Bluegrass music is the wide range of ages of the people. It is truly a family musical heritage. We see youngsters playing guitars and fiddles that are nearly as large as they are. They play alongside people in their seventies, eighties and probably nineties. Sometimes I think TV and pop culture mega-stars has turned us all from participants in our culture to sideline observers. Bluegrass is one big exception to this rule.
I just have to tell you all about one incredible band we have been enjoying. If you see a Bluegrass Festival advertised in your area look and see if the Cherryholmes Family Bluegrass Band is one of the participants; If so go and see them. I want to tell you they are a wonder and a pleasure to listen to. Even if your genre of music is acid rock I say you will thoroughly enjoy this group if for nothing more than the pure musicianship of the group. It is a family group. Pa and Ma and four of their five children perform. One is married and living in Idaho. The youngest girl, Molly Kate, is 12 years old and played fiddle beyond all but four of the best Bluegrass fiddlers in the country in a contest this year in Nashville, (I believe). Her brother B.J. also plays fiddle and is clearly among the best in all of the several bands that performed here this week. I could go on with superlatives for each member of the family since they all play multiple instruments well, sing well and dance the Irish dance as well. I will let it go at that, but I expect you all to watch for this group or look them up at Cherryholmes link.
Goodbye until next episode, Gary and Judy.
