Tom Bekeny is another in a pretty deep bench of great Bay Area mandolin players, most of whom aren't as well known as they should be. Tom, an instructor, plays mandolin and fiddle, and is well versed in both jazz
Author: Dave Berry
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California Report: Pete Hicks from Central Valley Boys
Pete Hicks is a California multi-instrumentalist who plays fiddle and mandolin and sings in bands in and around the Central Coast and Central Valley. He plays old-school traditional styles for bands such as the Central Valley Boys and Bean Creek,
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The Wooks’ CJ Cain on new album, Flyin’ High
As a follow-up to the Wooks' recent single and video, I chatted with co-founder CJ Cain about their upcoming album release, Flyin' High, dropping February 25 on their website and the usual streaming services. The Wooks have been described as a
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California Report: Snap Jackson
Snap Jackson and his band, the Knock on Wood Players, are an award-winning acoustic quartet hailing from Stockton, California. They blend Americana, bluegrass, soul, and old-time music and have been featured on the same bill with notable acts such as
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California Report: Master Fiddler and Instructor Chad Manning
Chad Manning is a Berkeley, California-based fiddler of numerous styles including bluegrass, old-time, and swing. He has played with regional and national acts including David Grisman, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands, Peter Rowan, and Bill Evens, and has toured
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California Report: Lisa Berman from the Crooked Jades
Bay Area based Lisa Berman is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, known as a pioneer in bringing the Hawaiian slide guitar back to old-time music, and redefining its sound. She also performs on clawhammer banjo, dobro, guitar, harmonium, and baritone ukulele.
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California Report: Butch Waller on High Country and Bill Monroe
The history of California bluegrass runs right through Butch Waller, and the award-winning band High Country he has lead for over half a century. Butch has played his Monroe-style mandolin in many influential bands, and alongside friends and bluegrass legends
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California Report: Tessa Schwartz, North Country Blue and CBA Youth Ambassador
I received this email from CBA Youth Coordinator/Honorary President Emerita and Darby Brandi which describes Tessa better than I can. "Dave, a great interview subject would be the young fiddle phenom, Tessa Schwartz, who is stepping down as Youth Ambassador in
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California Report: Kathy Kallick on songwriting and the Kathy Kallick Band
Kathy Kallick has won a Grammy, two IBMA Awards, and is a recipient of a Lifetime Membership from the California Bluegrass Association. She co-founded the internationally acclaimed Good Ol' Persons, and has released twenty-two albums. She's played with many of the country's top roots musicians – including her
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Charles Sawtelle Memorial Bench rededication – July 27, 2021
Last month, Dave Berry shared a lovely story about the Memorial Bench in Boulder, CO erected to honor the life and music of original Hot Rize guitarist, Charles Sawtelle, who passed away after a bout with cancer in 1999. The