mandolin-george » Events

Bruce’s Birthday Boogie

George — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:43:02 +0000

Congratulations on reaching a quarter of a century – here is a little impromptu tune called Beirut Beckons – a hint at the welcome you will receive if and when you finally make the trip – one day!

peut etre!? yimkin?! ………………….. ps bring your keyboard!

Click on the new tune on sound cloud opposite to hear the sample – its based on a larger piece – a work in progress so to speak….

Nancy, “Trane” and Sgt. Bilko : a tribute

George — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:22:26 +0000

Thanks to Nancy for her kind gift of this bowl-back “neapolitan style” mandolin built by the Suzuki Violin Co. in 1970. It was my first mandolin. Your act of love and kindness has been remembered on what would have been your special birthday today. Here is my tribute -”Trane” playing a Phil Silvers (Sgt Bilko) penned song called “Nancy with the laughing face”- recorded by Frank Sinatra. Your smile, laugh and sense of humour at social gatherings will always be remembered with fondness, love and affection.

India and The Incredible String Band

George — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:53:29 +0000

I was pleased to discover that someone from India was the 200th unique visitor. It reminds of the day I stood in the music shop in the newtown of Edinburgh pondering whether to buy a small compact sitar once owned by the Incredible String Band – a psychedelic folk group formed in Scotland in 1966. A “difficult-to swallow” sound for the folk revival diehards! The record below is “The Painting Box” released in 1967 – you can hear it on the album “The 5000 Spirits or the layers of the onion (2006) – remastered version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_String_Band

The sitar was selling for £45 which was a lot of money in these days, and besides my attention was drawn to a beautiful and unusual (German I think) 16 stringed mandolin ! Four courses of quadruple sonic heaven or a tortuous task of terrible tuning – depending on your optimistic/pessimisstic outlook. It had a large mother-of-pearl butterfly on the headstock and the back was bowl shaped with fluted ribs. I have seen a few 12 stringed versions from the continent but this is the only 16 string version I have seen first hand. Pictures exist of unusual 12 and sometimes 16 stringed instruments (see below) - but none as beautiful as this one was.

In the end, finances being what they were..

…………I left with nothing! C’est la vie!

Congratulations Colorado – 100th Visitor

George — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:29:34 +0000

Thank you to the 101 unique visitors from 11 Different countries who have visited in the last 2 weeks
I note that there are 17 Flags collected (if you include regional state flags) so far.
First one Brazil – Last one New York – Congratulations to Colorado – the 100th visitor!

Typing this brought back memories of laying in bed on the 37th floor of the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto when the morning news broke of John Denver’s tragic demise on 12 October 1997. I had to fly over Colorado twice that month, on the way to Utah and back to Chicago. The snow was deep and it was “touch-and-go” to make it out of Salt Lake City as most planes were diverted to Denver due to the bad weather. The lyrics of “Rocky Mountain High” were impossible to shake from my head as I gazed down on the magnificent Colorado river and snow covered peaks. Sadly, another artist lost to yet another plane accident!

Bobby and Brains – The Ultimate World Instrument?

George — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 06:30:43 +0000

Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale, using audience participation, at the event “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus”, from the 2009 World Science Festival, June 12, 2009.

While researching the neuropsychology of music , I came across this video in a series of 5 where
Bobby (Don’t Worry – Be Happy) McFerrin demonstrates his “world instrument” using a pentatonic scale.
This is portable – needs no batteries – strings or tuning up.
Can be used in any culture and is easy to carry on a plane. No more worries about baggage handlers!
Where can I get one?
Is amazon doing a good deal?
The only drawback I can see is cost – transporting all those people around the world!

If you watch the others in the series, you will observe how the neuroscientists manage to reverse the pleasure-inducing dopamine surge in the brains of the audience who seem to light up when Bobby performs

another 2 videos of him improvising with no scientists around is available on the media menu above

Thoughts from High in the Sky and Low in Heathrow

George — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:17:35 +0000

Spent a whole day yesterday travelling by plane, train, underground, train, bus – but I really enjoyed it. Good service, relaxed and everything went well without a hitch – Gave me a chance to map out my proposed next steps.These, for the moment, are :

1. Music -will have access to recording studio tomorrow. Covers and new compositions planned.
2. Performance – VJ and live music at a private party in a house facing the Mediterranean, various acoustic venues in USA and a charming Castle in Scotland.
3. Instruments – practice Oud, Charango and Cuatros
4. Repertoire -pratice Tarantella, Brazilian Tango, Maqam, East European fiddle tunes and Fado
5. Travel – Paris, Lisbon, Canaries, Cape Verde, USA, Greek Islands, Scotland, Dubai, Argentina and Brazil
6. Art – series of pictures to go with music and site
7. Video – an exploration of world genres in song, dance and pictures.
8. Broadcasts – planning now for next year
9. Collaborations -exploring technological solutions first.
10. Innovations – devise new tunings for old instruments, design new instrument next year – ongoing project

That’s all folks – for now!

Brian Blasts in from the Past

George — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:58:43 +0000

What a delight to hear from my friend Brian – the brains behind “FRAGILE”
A Glasgow-based duo playing a variety of instruments and material from a wide range of sources including American, Bluegrass, Scottish Folk, Jug Band, Skiffle, Singer-Songwriter etc
Influenced by such heavyweights as Mungo Jerry, Matt McGinn, Billy Connolly, Iain Mackintosh, Hamish Imlach etc
Brian taught me the subtle art of playing harmonica/kazoo along with guitar while simultaneously kicking an empty guitar case linked to a tambourine. What a sound! – perhaps not beautiful ? – but I liked it !

Thank you Brian
I hope one day in the not-too-distant-future we can create some new material somehow, somewhere – but I was thinking of something a wee bit more exotic than in your “hut”- nice as it may be……….

(see INSTRUMENTS/GUITARS/EKO 12 string - comments for further details)

Cheers

” I’m goin’ up state street – coming down main – ………..”

yes, Brian, I’m still singin’ it – never get tired – other listeners do – but not me!

Thanks for the songs…………and fond memories…..

in addition to the above, -The San Francisco Bay Blues, Goin’ to German, Iowa , Switch off that song, The Tortoise Song – etc - are all still goin’ strong

Edinburgh Mandolin Festival

George — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:11:16 +0000

This event is features the EMGO led by Nigel Gatherer http://www.emgo.org.uk/

Nigel (pictured right) also runs a very useful website.

Check it out http://www.nigelgatherer.com/Cheers Nigel – hope you still find time to update your interesting database of bands and performers. Stay in touch.

Good Food and Oud

George — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:03:49 +0000

As promised, there is a video of Elie and the percussionists playing last night in the Black Pearl,(Zouk/ Kaslik/Adonis)
You can find a photo and video in the media section of the menu above.
A very good (late) night!
(or early for Lebanon)
zzzz

Spotify hits the United States

George — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 16:51:54 +0000

Now that the SPOTIFY service has finally hit the states – it is time to publish my acoustic playlists. Please leave a comment if you have any preferences. I will, of course, share the mandolin one first!