Banjo Chat

211 Season Finale with Alison Brown! May 21, 2024

This is the Season Finale! And my mind is blown hearing Alison Brown talk about her banjos and what she’s playing on the road. We chat about her music, making records, producing, re-issuing records and the vision for her band. We nerd out about how we like the piano and banjo combo.

What she likes to convey with her music, and how she goes beyond how the banjo is usually portrayed. We listen to her track Sweet Sixteenths with Sierra Hull on mandolin, and the Alison Brown Quartet.

We talk about Compass records and why it started and she gives advice for getting over your nerves.

“The banjo is a conduit for connecting with other people”

https://www.alisonbrown.com

https://alisonbrown.bandcamp.com/album/on-banjo

patreon.com/banjochat

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Pickenchickenbooks for Kustom Koozies

210 Lukas Poole May 14, 2024

This week on the chat we have Lukas Pool!

A fun one where we talk about the ins and outs of the Ozark Banjo Shop, how it all started and when he was was making banjos just to pay the rent!

Apprentices, banjo making, balancing having kids with performing music, horses, and his dad working over at Mountain View Music.

He tells us why he decided to make a living playing music and we get specific about repairs, wood selection, and what he looks for in a banjo.

Also how he approaches arranging a fiddle tune for banjo, and advice for people learning and making banjos.

https://ozarkbanjo.com/

https://www.patreon.com/BanjoChat

209 Listener Emails Part Two May 08, 2024

This week on banjo chat!

As we prepare for the final two episodes in this season we take a moment to get into some more Listener emails! And these ones are doozies.

Thanks everyone and we return next week with our next guest!

https://www.patreon.com/BanjoChat

208 Melissa Carper Apr 30, 2024

This week on the banjo chat!

We have Melissa Carper!

We are chatting about being on the road with her band, her debut at the Grand Ole Opry and how she writes songs and stays close to her roots.

We talk about her transformation from being a side person, to how her creativity came alive, and what was stifling her creativity.

Healthy alternatives to drinking and how to get sleep on the road! Also, what has kept her on her path when dealing with frustration, playing in bars over the years. How she kept on believing in what she could do!

https://melissacarper.bandcamp.com

https://www.melissacarper.com

https://patreon.com/banjochat

207 Kyle Tuttle Apr 23, 2024

This week we have Kyle Tuttle on the banjo chat!

Of course we talk about winning the grammy award with Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway for their City of Gold album! Yessir!

We are also talking about banjo necks, banjo makers and what life is like in Nashville as a banjo player.

How he loves the music festival scene, playing music and being true to yourself, and different recording techniques on his new album.

We talk about how he approaches improvisation and how you can put yourself into new situations (jamming and playing music) without letting your ego get in the way.

“The truer you are to yourself, is always going to be more beneficial to what your goals are”

http://kyletuttle.com

https://www.patreon.com/BanjoChat

206 Moira Smiley Apr 16, 2024

This week we have Moira Smiley on the banjo chat!

We talk about how music gives you a sense of transformation and how what she writes on banjo can have an uplift, a melancholy, as well as a sense of belonging. She explains what it’s like writing music for choral groups and for other people to sing.

Talking about the ballad tradition in folk music, and relating the Turkish Cumbus to the banjo and honoring the folk songs that were the core of her early musicianship and bridging a classical music fascination with a folk tradition.

The success of her version of Leadbelly’s, “Sylvie” and the fund for supporting a bipoc composer every year.

www.moirasmiley.com

moirasmiley.com/bandcamp.com

Banjochat.com/patreon

205 Kristin Scott Benson Apr 10, 2024

This week’s episode is with Kristin Scott Benson!

It was a great chat with Kristin, all things banjo and beyond. Listening to her solos and talking about who inspired her to play and special guest barks from Fisher the dog.

Talking about different personalities and how we handle the business side of music, performing and teaching.

Band dynamics and what it’s like being a side person, and being grateful for the different roles in a band. Having stage fright, and struggling with nerves. Being in a band with all guys.

Strategies for nerves, for the right hand, and for getting a groove. How to stay centered and focused when playing

“What never gets old is the communal spirit of a band when the groove and drive are right”

https://www.ksbbanjo.com

https://kristinscottbenson.bandcamp.com

https://www.patreon.com/banjochat

204 Listener Emails! Apr 03, 2024

This week on banjo chat podcast, it's me taking listener emails!

Great questions from our listeners. We chat about how to seem more confident on stage, what is stage banter?, how to meet people to play with, and crazy gigs.

Also cheers to radio station WSSB 91.7! Thanks for playing the pod!

www.patreon/banjochat

Instagram: Banjochat

203 Aaron Jonah Lewis Mar 19, 2024

This week’s episode is with Aaron Jonah Lewis and how music and the world as we know it, are changing!

We talk about making music in Detroit, and being a traveling musician. Thinking about the bigger picture, building community, finding the people who help you in your life. What it’s like making vinyl records again. Their Dos Senoritas album. Connecting to yourself and the people around you. Connecting to history, how banjo influenced ragtime music and how they've been using different arrangements and orchestration in ragtime banjo music. Some great perspective on how to support arts and music, and how their Banjo Dojo group music classes are harkening back to a more authentic way of learning music.

“When you are playing a banjo, you are connected to something really deep”.

https://www.aaronjonahlewis.com

https://www.ragtimebanjo.com

https://www.cornpotato.com

banjodojo.substack.com

Check out our new Patreon page for Banjo Chat!

patreon.com/banjochat

202 Cathy Fink Mar 12, 2024

This week’s episode is with Cathy Fink!

We talk about her grammy nominations, collaborations, and how she has been mentoring different artists-in-residence at the Music Center at Strathmore. Her project from China to Appalachian with Marcy Marxer and Chao Tian. We explore how she views creativity and how she’s driven to work on social justice issues. Her thoughts and advice for being a connected and balanced freelance musician and connecting adults and families through music.

“You get up everyday, you put in the work, the love, and make connections.”

https://www.cathymarcy.com

https://cathyfinkmarcymarxer.bandcamp.com

Support for Banjo Chat at the Patreon page

201 Lisa Leblanc Mar 05, 2024

Season 2 kicks off with a bang! We have Lisa Leblanc! Coming straight from her recent Symphony tours of her original music in Canada. Her big picture on connection with the audience, and how to have fun onstage. How she has developed her style of banjo playing, and getting to jump around and wail on the banjo. The amazing connection between Acadian, Cajun, songwriting and Chiac music and how she has blended them with folk, bluegrass and rock elements to create an ever evolving sound! Truly an inspiring chat and was psyched to have Lisa on the show!

“As soon as you’re comfortable everyone knows it, as soon as you’re uncomfortable, everyone knows it even more”- Lisa Leblanc about stage performing.

https://www.lisaleblanc.ca

https://lisaleblanc.bandcamp.com

10 Tony Trischka, Joe Newberry, Cedric Watson, Scott Hopkins Season Finale!!! Nov 28, 2023

It's the Season Finale of Season 1! A special live episode taped onstage at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. At the inaugural Banjo Weekend Nov 15-17th where we were teaching a great community of banjoists. This is a highlight for the banjo chat pod, and there are many pearls of wisdom throughout this chat!

Listen to Joe Newberry, Cedric Watson, Tony Trischka, Scott Hopkins talk about first banjos, and their beginnings. Highlights of their performing experiences, New things they are excited about, upcoming projects. Earl Scruggs, Transatlantic Sessions, life in Louisiana. How to be confident on stage, how to stay inspired and motivated, and what life is life outside of music. Advice for anyone who is learning something new.

The Ashokan Center https://ashokancenter.org/

Joe Newberry https://www.joenewberry.biz/

Cedric Watson https://www.bijoucreole.com/

Tony Trischka https://www.tonytrischka.com/

Scott Hopkins https://scotthopkinsbanjo.com/

Hilary Hawke https://hilaryhawkemusic.com/

9 Cynthia Sayer Oct 31, 2023

This week’s episode is with Cynthia Sayer!

We talk about what it is like being a full-time professional banjoist in the jazz world. What made her want to learn swing banjo? How she was touring for 20 years before ever working with another woman in jazz. Being in Woody Allen’s jazz band for 10 years and working with him.

We listen to two of her albums; Cynthia Sayer Vol 1., and Joyride. What it takes to make a career in music, staying open to following your heart and having good people around you.

https://cynthiasayer.com

https://cynthiasayer.bandcamp.com/

banjochatpodcast@gmail.com

8 BB Bowness Oct 24, 2023

This week my guest is BB Bowness! We chat about what it’s like being a professional bluegrass banjoist. How she got into banjo in New Zealand and got her first banjo from the United States.

How she approaches improvising, and playing with different artists as well as the driving force and focus of her band, Mile Twelve. She chats about how the band started in the beginning and has been going strong for the past 10 years. Doing planks and good posture to strengthen yourself for holding resonator banjo while playing. What fingerpicks and thumb picks she uses. Bluechip versus plastic thumb pick. Her 2 main banjos. Coming to the U.S for the first time. How to stay healthy and happy as a musician.

https://miletwelve.bandcamp.com/

https://www.catherinebowness.com/

www.doctorswithoutborders.org

7 Cristina Vane Oct 18, 2023

This episode is with Cristina Vane!

She talks about how she got into clawhammer banjo, the bluegrass and old-time scenes in Nashville, Los Angeles, and NYC and what it’s like moving closer to the source of blues, and old-time. How music has been a constant in her life, and honing her voice in the music she makes and honoring all the things that make her musical identity. We hear her story growing up in Italy and traveling to the United States. Geeking out about the late blues artist, Chris Whitley and his album, Dirt Floor. Advice about identity as a musician, and great advice for how to keep good priorities and feel satisfied in your life. “Don’t quit don’t quit”! Listen to two tracks from her newest album, Make Myself Me Again.

WEBSITE

https://www.cristinavane.com/

https://cristinavane.bandcamp.com/

Banjo Chat Logo

www.wearablechaos.com

Follow us on instagram @banjochat

6 Allison DeGroot Oct 11, 2023

In this episode we chat with Allison DeGroot! Allison talks about her immersion into banjo and how she got into playing in bands. Writing tunes. The playing of Hobart Smith and Fred Cockerham and recording the album Hurricane Clarice with Tatiana Hargreaves. We listen to Ostrich with Pearls, we talk about weaving in family stories into the music. Her original tune, Wellington and finding the muse. Nancy Blevins and the production of the album. How she visualizes the banjo when playing with Tati. Getting into different banjo tunings! Staying inspired, handling pressure and how it feels to be creative and evolving with the banjo. Also tips and advice for banjo players!

https://allisonandtatiana.bandcamp.com

https://brucemolsky.bandcamp.com/

https://www.allisondegroot.com/

5 Hubby Jenkins Oct 04, 2023

Hubby talks about how he got into music, how he practices in small spaces, his influences in early folk, old-time, influences from other people besides banjoists (comedians, other types of musicians). Naming our banjos. He dives deep into some music from Black Banjo Songsters and we listen to the Rufus Casey version of the Cuckoo song. What it was like for him learning that the banjo started as a black instrument and how it re-shaped history. His live shows and what it was like playing his first festival as a touring musician. Being in the Carolina Chocolate Drops. The perception of the banjo from all different types of audiences. Hubby asks what it’s like for me being a woman playing the banjo. We chat about the hustle in NYC.

He talks about not letting history get into the way, but also being aware of the songs you’re playing and being respectable and knowledgable.

Hubby shares his must-know songs for the banjo world.

https://www.hubbyjenkins.com/

https://hubbyjenkins.bandcamp.com/

“I never feel more grounded and more centered than when I’m lost in playing” -Hubby Jenkins

4 Adam Hurt Sep 27, 2023

On episode 4 our guest is Adam Hurt! We talk about the importance of teaching in day to day life, and the realities of being a musician, getting stage nerves and energy levels after performing. His Back to the Earth album and working with Ricky Skaggs, Brittany Haas, Paul Kowert and Jordan Tice. What kind of music he listens to and what the ingredients for good music are. Some strategies for learning new music. Thoughts on old-time music and what influences his music and advice for us in this world of social media.

In this episode we listened to:

Kentucky Winder and Biddy https://adamhurt.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-the-earth

Adam Hurt’s Website: https://www.adamhurt.com

3 Kaia Kater Sep 20, 2023

On this episode I chat with banjoist, Kaia Kater!

Talking about gear and her music on the last two albums she put out; Grenades and Nine Pine. The pressures of being a musician, and different recording techniques. How to write for the banjo. How she started banjo and traveling back and forth from Canada to the U.S. Love/hate relationships with different tunings. Talking about her dream banjo. Her Grenades album/social change, and her dad’s experience as a refugee from Grenada. Throwing off the shawl of traditional banjo playing. And a little bit about the upcoming album.

WEBSITE: https://www.kaiakater.com/

Songs on the Podcast

From album Grenades: Canyon Land

https://kaiakater.bandcamp.com/track/canyonland

From album Nine Pin: Paradise Fell

https://kaiakater.com/track/1023267/paradise-fell

2 Brad Kolodner Sep 13, 2023

Brad talks about what’s cooking in Baltimore, MD for old-time music! His role as a community organizer, what his influences are, and what he considers success. We listen to his band Charm City Junction, his solo album, and his band with his dad, Ken Kolodner. We get into melodic old-time banjo compared to melodic bluegrass banjo, traditions in Old-time music, nerves on stage, adrenalin, Clifftop banjo competition, and improvising. Here are the links to the songs and websites:

https://www.bradkolodner.com/

Clawhammer Corner: https://truefire.com/channels/clawhammer-corner/h2683

Turkey Trot: https://charmcityjunctionmusic.bandcamp.com/album/duckpin

Foggy Mountain Special and Old Grimes: https://bradkolodner.bandcamp.com/album/chimney-swifts

1 Maggie Carson Aug 29, 2023

Maggie talks to Hilary about where she learned to play and why she chose banjo. She tells us about her life and touring with Spirit Family Reunion. We listen through her newest album, The Dark Was Aglow and talk about how to get inspired, being a musician and a mom!

https://www.maggiecarsonmusic.com/

https://maggiecarson.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-was-aglow

This episode mixed by Hilary Hawke and mastered by Claude Aldous.

Logo design by Sierra Mack