HOMEGROWN MUSIC . . . AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT!

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BANJO MUSIC OLD AND NEW

Banjo aficionados, whether they prefer bluegrass or the old-timey clawhammer and mountain techniques, will also find several titles of interest in the Kicking Mule catalog. As such folks already know, the banjo held a very prominent position in American music before the invention of the electric guitar. In fact, classic-style banjo flourished in both the U.S. and Britain between the Civil War and World War 1. (Some cities could even boast — as Seattle still does — entire orchestras made up of banjos! )

I haven't yet found a source for albums of that vintage music . . . but Kicking Mule does have the distinction of offering one disk consisting of new versions of classic fivestring banjo pieces. The record—entitled Banjo Gems —features solos, duets, and trios by Clark Buehling, Steve Moore, and Henry Sapoznik. (Sapoznik also appears on KMR's Melodic Clawhammer Banjo and Rivers of Babylon to the Land of Jazz.) The music on Banjo Gems is real escapist material: It tends to propel the listener back to a simpler era . . . before the hurried age of automobiles and electricity.

Although banjo music may have enjoyed its heyday over 50 years ago, I'd like to mention that I think the instrument still offers new frontiers to be explored. For instance, I'm hoping that someone (perhaps the folks at Kicking Mule) can convince Billy Faier—a true pioneer of the five-string musicmakerto record another album. In any case, Ed and Stefan are doing a good job of documenting the musical ground that's al ready been covered . . . and if titles like the upcoming Bluegrass Banjo Inventions are any indication, they plan to move into experimental trends in banjo music as well.

SWEET NEWS FOR DULCIMER LISTENERS

Whenever I discuss dulcimers in this column (which I did in MOTHER NO. 67 and again in issue 70), I make a point of mentioning a couple of fine Kicking Mule productions . . . and now the outfit has expanded its line to include a whole series of dulcimer albums! Besides the original two disks by the authors of In Seareh of the Wild Dulcimer, KMR has added works by Mark Nelson ( Fiddle Tunes for Dulcimer).

Neal Hellman (Appalachian Dulcimer Duets), B onnie Carol (Fingerdances for Dulcimer), and Michael Rugg (Ruggs; Celtic Collection for Dulcimer). Neal Hellman's album is organized around the concept of a living room duet: It pairs off the Appalachian dulcimer with several other traditional instruments such as the banjo, jaw harp, harmonica, fiddle, autoharp, mandolin, musical saw, and hammered dulcimer. In addition to showing off the mountain instrument's versatility, Neal's record makes for just plain good listening . . . and the same goes for Bonnie Carol's disk, a collection of pleasing tunes from an expert dulcimer maker, player, and teacher.

One of the most popular recent trends in folk circles has been the growing interest in the music of the British Isles . . . so it's not surprising that someone has put out an album of Celtic tunes featuring the dulcimer. Michael Rugg's nicely crafted' record features a variety of somewhat unusual accompanying instruments (including harp, mandola, tin whistle, psaltery, hurdy-gurdy, hammered dulcimer, and bodhran), as well as the sparing use of guitar and fiddle, all of which sound extremely agreeable to my ear.

As I write this, tablature books for the dulcimer albums I've mentioned aren't yet available, but the folks at Kicking Mule are working on them and tell me the volumes might well be ready by the time this column appears in print. You can write directly to ask about the tab books, and be sure to request a free catalog while you're at it. The address is Kicking Mule Records, Inc., Dept. TMEN, P.O. Box 158, Alderpoint, California 95411. All the KMC albums sell for $5.95 apiece (or $30 for six) . . . plus shipping charges of $1.00 for the first item. and 25¢ for each additional purchase (if you'd prefer first class mail delivery, make that $2.50, plus 500 per additional item). Shipment by UPS can also be arranged.

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