JERRY DOUGLAS AND

THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND  

CITY WINERY NASHVILLE

December 29, 2017

 

Jerry Douglas and his Dobro(r) at City Winery Nashville

     WE HAD NOT SEEN Jerry Douglas in many a year. Obviously, it had been much too long. We surely had not seen the Jerry Douglas Band...ever. All of the musicians who performed with Jerry Douglas are beyond belief! Just incredible! 

Christian Sedelmyer and Jerry Douglas

Doug Belote at rear

Daniel Kimbro and Mike Seal

     JERRY DOUGLAS AND THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND filled the stage to the brim with fabulous musicians and beautiful instruments. Jerry has launched far beyond his days as the top Dobro(r) player in the bluegrass world. Give a listen to "The Transatlantic Sessions" sometime to see what we mean. The band's music has Celtic and bluegrass roots, and there are influences from blues, reggae, jazz, and Eastern European music. From where we sat that evening, it appeared that Jerry was having more fun than anybody else on the stage. He moved all over the place and grinned and picked with each and every member of his band. He has grabbed up some of the finest in their field from everywhere: CHRISTIAN SEDELMYER (fiddle), MIKE SEAL (guitar), DANIEL KIMBRO (bass), VANCE THOMPSON (trumpet), JAMEL MITCHELL (saxophone, graduate of Memphis Overton High School for the Performing Arts, son of James Mitchell of the Memphis Horns, and nephew of the great Willie Mitchell--Jamel has his credentials in order!), and  DOUG BELOTE (drums).

 

Jerry Douglas and Daniel Kimbro

Vance Thompson and Jamel Mitchell

Christian Sedelmyer at far right

Here are the selections from that special evening: Unfolding (Edgar Meyer tune); Baby's Leavin' on the 2:19; What If (Grammy-nominated album); Gone to Fortingall; Hey Joe (Billy Roberts tune covered by Jimi Hendrix); The Remarks You Make; Battle Stick; Something You've Got, Baby; Cavebop (inspired by Jerry's dream about Charlie Parker and Fred Flintstone); We Hide and Seek (or Come and Go, Jerry added); The Last Wild Moor; Freemantle (collaboration between Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck); Who's Your Uncle; and the Encore was Sir Allie B (Allie Bain).

     The Jerry Douglas Band completed the night of music from here on Earth and perhaps even other planets! Catch all these artists whenever you can!

 

Christian Sedelmyer, Vance Thompson and Jamel Mitchell behind Christian

Jerry Douglas (center), Doug Belote (rear) and Daniel Kimbro (right)

 

For more information:

Just Google Jerry Douglas and the Jerry Douglas Band, then Google each artist individually.

City Winery Nashville  www.citywinery.com/nashville  609 Lafayette St. 37203 - 615.324.1010

 

 

 

 

 

 

     



 

THE CLAIRE LYNCH BAND

MAY BE COMING TO YOUR TOWN!

EXCITING NEW SHOWS ADDED REGULARLY!

MARCH 29, 2018  

 

Scroll down a few spaces in the Talkin' Bluegrass Music blog (https://talkinbluegrassmusic.blogspot.com) to see the band's schedule! Visit www.clairelynch.com to learn more about The Claire Lynch Band.

 

L to R: Bryan McDowell, Claire Lynch, Mark Schatz, Jarod Walker

City Winery Nashville - Jan. 31, 2017

 

JONI BISHOP

BRINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS

IN STYLE!

Olive Branch, MS   December 20, 2017

 

Richard and Mary's home in Olive Branch, MS

      IT TAKES MORE than a broken leg to stop JONI BISHOP! The talented Nashville, TN, artist and musician is automatically scheduled to play an annual invitation-only  Christmas house concert in Olive Branch, MS. So, several weeks before the appointed time, Joni is on a ladder at home cleaning out gutters. She falls, breaks her leg, goes into surgery, goes into rehab/physical therapy, and with the help of the host of the event, she makes it on time to the concert. That Joni is a trouper! Friends RICHARD and MARY, who host the event, figured that if Joni were feeling better and the doctor cleared her, Richard would drive to Nashville, load up Joni and her wheelchair, and bring her to Olive Branch. Following the concert, Richard took Joni and her wheelchair back to Nashville. Done! That's what friends are for!

Poinsettia and this way to the music

Joni chats with a fan

 

     The 75 or more guests were more than delighted to see and hear Joni again. It would not have been the same without her. Richard and Mary are splendid hosts who fill their home with decorations, food and beverages, and lots of carefully-placed chairs for the guests. Richard picked out a spot for a slightly-elevated stage for Joni, and after lots of visiting and chatter in the room, Joni is wheeled into place on the stage, seated in a chair, and she places the afore-mentioned leg on a beautiful red pillow. Let the games begin! Did we mention that there are red and green lights blinking and moving on the drapes, the ceiling and walls, and everywhere else? It's the spirit of the season!

 

Joni plays her cigar box banjo

Mom and child who is lighted up

     Joni Bishop doesn't just play and sing. She writes songs and gives everything a unique arrangement. She also paints,and makes instruments out of cigar boxes and anything else she can find and turn into something to make music. She displays samples of her work, along with several CDs that she has for sale.

     On this particular night, here are the songs that Joni played for the guests:  Little Drummer Boy, Endless Christmas (original), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Soul Cake (a counterpoint arrangement), Go Tell It on the Mountain, What Child Is This / Mary Did You Know, Toys (original), Somebody's Tallkin' 'Bout Jesus (cigar box instrument), Road to Bethlehem, Good King Wenceslas, Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland, and Twelve Days of Christmas (with cue cards held up by young Parker and his friend). Pause for a brief intermission to enjoy food and spirits and chat some more.

Parker and his friend enjoying the music

Cue card girl--We needed her

 

Following the intermission, Joni resumed with Stone by Stone, Mary Had a Baby, Because of Christmas Day (drums found at the Goodwill Store), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, We Three Kings, I Saw Three Ships, Christmas in the Trenches (John McCutcheon cover), It's Gonna Be All Right, I'll Fly Away, Silent Night (sung in Latvian [family originated in Latvia] and also in English), and Joy to the World (with audience participation). Oh! It's just the grandest time ever!

     Special thanks to Joni Bishop, Richard and Mary, and everyone else who pitches in annually to make the concert great!

 

Joni performing on her guitar

 



For more information:

Joni Bishop www.jonibishop.com Facebook and other social media

Albums we love: One Wondrous Star, Threads, and Steal Away Home

 



 

CAROLING IN THE CAVERNS 

BLANCHARD SPRINGS, ARKANSAS--   

A Christmas Gift Like No Other!  

 

Blanchard Caverns

Christmas tree inside Visitor's Center

 

 

 

 

 

  

     CAROLING IN THE CAVERNS, at the Visitor's Center in Blanchard Springs, Arkansas, truly is a Christmas gift like no other! We have been lucky enough to see the event probably more times than we can count. We love the trip to Mountain View, AR, our stay at Pinewood Cabins, the caverns, our musical friends, the trip to JoJo's Catfish Wharf, and a favorite spot for breakfast called the Rainbow Café. We love all of that! We would be remiss if we failed to mention Dale, a ranger at Blanchard Springs who assists in our getting around while at the Visitor's Center. Thanks, Dale! And Mary Gillihan, too, who helped me to the bleachers in the cave.

 

View from porch at JoJo's

View from porch at JoJo's

      Contact the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce next holiday season and order tickets to a performance. The shows begin on Thanksgiving weekend and run through a few days before Christmas. The caverns themselves are millions of years old, and the scene inside is breathtaking!

 

Carolers L to R: Irl Hees, unknown photo bomber, Ron Haines, Matt Jones,

Pam Setser, Mary Gillihan, Robert Gillihan

 

     The carolers were decked out in Christmas finery, and their vocal and instrumental work were splendid as usual. Here are the names of those hard-working local musicians: Mary Gillihan (vocal), Robert Gillihan (guitar, vocal), Pam Setser (dulcimer, guitar, spoons, vocal), Ron Haines (guitar, vocal), Irl Hees (upright bass, vocal), and Matt Jones (vocal).

 

 

     This is the set list for that special Saturday afternoon: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, For Unto You a Savior Is Born (Jesus Shall Be His Name), Do You Hear What I Hear, New Kid in Town, I Wonder as I Wander (Irl solo), Little Drummer Boy, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, God Rest Ye

Merry Gentlemen, Away in a Manger (with Robert Gillihan reading), Mary Did You Know, O Holy Night, Christmas Time's A-Comin', Winter Wonderland, Let It Snow, Deck the Halls, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Ozark 12 Days of Christmas ("...and a possum in a gum tree"), Jingle Bells, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Silent Night, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

 

For more information:

Web  http://YourPlaceintheMountains.com

E-mail: mvchamber@mvtel.net  

Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce

Phone (Tickets/Information) 870.269.8068 or Toll Free 888.679.2859



MOLLY TUTTLE BRINGS IT  

TO CITY WINERY NASHVILLE  

November 30, 2017

L to R: Christian Sedelmyer, Molly Tuttle, Nat Smith
Royal Masat behind Molly

     IBMA GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR is an incredible honor for anyone! In 2017, the award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) went to a young woman named MOLLY TUTTLE (songwriter, guitar, banjo, clawhammer guitar, vocals), who arrived in Nashville by way of Santa Clara County, California , and her family's popular West Coast band called The Tuttles. Well, welcome, Molly!

Molly Tuttle on guitar with what
she calls one of her "cannons" from
Pre-War Guitar Company

Christian Sedelmyer, Molly Tuttle
Nat Smith, Royal Masat at back

     When we spotted her name on the calendar for City Winery Nashville, we knew we wanted to be there and to hear Molly and her friends, CHRISTIAN SEDELMYER (fiddle, vocals), NAT SMITH (cello) and ROYAL MASAT (bass).

L to R: Christian, Royal, Molly, Nat

L to R: Christian, Royal, Molly

     The lounge at City Winery is cozy and comfortable. The food and beverages, divine, and the evening with Molly, Christian, Nat, and Royal was over the top! The artists moved easily from one number to the next--expected from folks at this level who know their craft.

     Here is the selection of songs and tunes that we enjoyed: Some Days, Girl in My Shoes, Gentle on My Mind (John Hartford), You Didn't Call My Name, Old Man of the Mill (clawhammer guitar), Sit Back and Watch It Roll, Walden (Pond, couldn't get inside for a visit), Good Enough, Tall Buildings (John Hartford), My World Is Built Around You, Lightning in a Jar, Moonshiner (Peter Rowan), Bb Swedish tune (instrumental), Rain and Snow, White Freightliner, and the encore was Helpless.



L to R: Christian Sedelmyer, Royal Masat, Molly Tuttle, Nat Smith

 

Catch Molly and/or her friends any time you can. They are top-of-the-line!

 



For more information:

Molly Tuttle www.mollytuttlemusic.com  Facebook @mollytuttlemusic

Christian Sedelmyer www.christiansedelmyer.com E-mail christian@christiansedelmyer.com 

Royal Masat  Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media 

Nat Smith www.nathanielsmithcello.com  Facebook @nathanielsmithcello and https://nathanielsmithcello.blogspot.com 

MINTON SPARKS INTRODUCES

STEPHANIE LAMBRING

TO FANS AT CITY WINERY

Nashville, TN  October 22, 2017

 

Minton Sparks

 

    

John Jackson

MINTON SPARKS is noted for her stories about family and experiences she's had along the way. She sings, she buck dances a little, and she carries her hanky and the now-famous pocket book that figures into her routine. She also brings along her enormously talented guitarist to accompany her stories. JOHN JACKSON is an amazing instrumentalist whose work fits perfectly with Minton's stories. One more important thing that Minton does is that she introduces her fans to new artists that her fans may not have seen and heard. A real pro does that--brings the newer ones along and gives them a hand up.

Minton Sparks and John Jackson

 

     On the night that we were there, we had the chance to see and hear STEPHANIE LAMBRING who is originally from Seymour, Indiana. As it turns out, a special cousin of ours is also from

Seymour. He served the town as mayor and also as head of the Chamber of Commerce. We shouted for him and he came down to City Winery Nashville to have dinner and hear Stephanie perform. As for this writer, it was great to see all of them...Minton, Stephanie, and Cousin Bill.

     In our meager attempt to catch up on blogging, we won't tarry. We will dive right into Stephanie's set and then Minton's.

Stephanie Lambring on guitar

Stephanie Lambring

     Stephanie Lambring sings, writes her own songs, and plays guitar. Here is her song selection from that evening:  I Get Around, Oh Love I Don't Know Your Name, Hand Me Down, Disappointment, How Do I Look Like I'm Not Lookin', and At the Door of Jesus (title?). We look forward to hearing Stephanie again as she settles into the Nashville music routine.

      Minton Sparks is a familiar name in our blogs, so you already know that we have followed her career a long time, from Memphis to Oxford, MS, and to Nashville, TN. She is a spoken-word artist of the finest sort. Her subjects cover hopes for playing basketball for the late legend, Pat Summitt, of the University of Tennessee, to a bunch of her aunts who sound like chickens clucking, to mall parking lot carnivals, to gas station attendants, and most importantly (to us, anyway), her grandmother's pocket book that held small items and a big secret. She's Minton and we love her! Minton's subjects for that night at City Winery were as follows: You Gotta Walk This Lonesome Valley, Fill 'er Up?, Trella's Trash, Aunt Dixie in Dixieland, John 3:16, Vickie Pickle's Mama, Where Women End and Birds Begin, Cheryl Lynn, Gold Digger, Fight Club, Ticket Taker at the Carnival, It Could Happen to Anybody, Lunch Ladies and School Bus Drivers, Eastern Bloc Kites (sheets sown together), Tennessee Prison for Women (cousin is #501***), Her Purse, and another favorite, When You Comin' Home, Girl? 

Minton Sparks

 

For more information:

Minton Sparks www.mintonsparks.com  for CDs and DVDs, also see Facebook and other social media for Minton's performances and writing workshops

Stephanie Lambring www.stephanielambring.com and also see Facebook and Twitter 

John Jackson  www.discogs.com and search John Jackson also Google for more about John Jackson's musical career

CHRIS HILLMAN

HERB PEDERSEN

JOHN JORGENSON

MIKE BUB

 

 Hit City Winery Nashville at the Same Time!

October 1, 2017

L to R: John Jorgenson, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen

WE JUST HAD A FEELING that this was going to be a huge night! It was! A dream-come-true doesn't happen often, but when it does, you just buy the tickets and haul your freight to City Winery Nashville. Aging rockers, aging bluegrass fans, and younger ones of all ages will not forget this night. Here be legends of rock, country, and bluegrass!

 

L to R: John Jorgenson, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen

     Remember Chris  Hillman with the Byrds? Flying Burrito Brothers? The Desert Rose Band? Remember Herb Pedersen with The Desert Rose Band and The Dillards?  Monster talents John Jorgenson and Mike Bub were already in town and they rounded out the most splendid night of rock and bluegrass memories ever to appear on that stage or any. These four pals from the '60s to the present made music like no time had gone by at all! Guitars galore, mandolins, a piano, and one spot-on upright bass filled the room with the best music ever!

John Jorgenson

      Here is what we heard and it's still playing in my head as I type:  The Bells of Rhymney (Pete Seeger cover), Bidin' My Time, Love Reunited, Turn! Turn! Turn! (Ecclesiastes 3, King Solomon), Given All I Can See (Mercy and Grace), If I Could Only Win Your Love (Louvin Brothers cover), Walk Right Back (Everly Brothers cover), Wheels (Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman), She Don't Care About Time (by Byrds bandmate Gene Clark, 1964-65), Eight Miles High, Set You Free This Time (Gene Clark song, John Jorgenson vocal), When I Get a Little Money, She Sang Hymns Out of Tune (Herb Pedersen vocal), Different Rivers, Wildflowers (Tom Petty cover), I'm Restless, Hey Boys (Herb Pedersen vocal), Together Again (Buck Owens cover), Such Is the World We Live In (Tribute to Chris Hillman's grandfather and great-grandfather), Wait a Minute (not John Duffey...Herb Pedersen [vocal] wrote it), Here She Comes Again, and Encore: Rank Strangers (The Stanley Brothers cover). Have mercy on my soul! What a divine night! Catch Chris, Herb, John, and Mike any time they get within 150 miles of you! It's worth the drive and the money!

 

L to R: John Jorgenson, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, Mike Bub (at back)

Band:

Chris Hillman - vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin

Herb Pedersen - backing vocals, acoustic guitar

John Jorgenson - backing vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano

Mike Bub - upright bass 

 

For more information:

Chris Hillman www.chrishillman.com  New album Bidin' My Time 

Herb Pedersen www.herbpedersen.com

John Jorgenson www.johnjorgenson.com 

Mike Bub  Facebook @olebubbybass  Twitter @olebubby  or most Monday nights at Nashville's Station Inn www.stationinn.com