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SHLOMO PESTCOE שלמה פּסטקאָ
* Yummie * Musical Styles * Instruments * Features * News * Contact * Links * * Banjo Roots: Banjo Beginnings * * The Ekonting: A Link to the Banjo's West African Heritage * Please note: This is not a commercial site. I do not sell or appraise musical instruments. Please do not contact me to request that I identify and provide background information on a specific instrument in your possession and/or evaluate its worth. That's a job for an accredited professional appraiser, which I'm not. That said, I'll be glad to answer questions and discuss any subject I present here, so long as that one proviso is respected.
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Performers Dr. Joan Dickerson -- A virtuoso of the "classic" style 5-string banjo (the most popular form of banjo music from the 1880s to the advent of the Jazz Age featuring period "pop," ragtime and light classical pieces) and the early jazz style 4-string plectrum banjo. As an African American artist/educator, she shares the rich heritage of this American instrument with roots in West Africa through performances and workshops. Using several different types of banjos, Dr. Dickerson explores the history of the instrument from its slave origins on through to the Ragtime Era and the Jazz Age in her "edu-taining" program Sounds of the Banjo. She's also a driving force in The Friends of the Akonting Center (FOAC). Maeve Donnelly -- One of Ireland's finest traditional fiddlers. Originally from the village of Kylemore in East Galway, Maeve grew up in an area rich in traditional music and musicians. She started to play the fiddle at the tender age of five and won her first All-Ireland Fiddle Competition four years later. Maeve was a founding member of Moving Cloud (1989-2000), an all-star ensemble which included such leading figures of Ireland's traditional music scene as button accordionist Paul Brock, flautist Kevin Crawford, pianist Carl Hession, and fellow fiddler Manus McGuire. Her long-awaited debut solo album is brilliant! Kate & Lou Giampetruzzi -- Kate and Lou have been the Big Apple's "First Couple" of folk music since the early '70s. Back in the day, they led the renowned Brooklyn-based old-time string band, The Wonder Beans. In recent years, me and my comrade-in-music, master harmonica player Peter "Trip" Henderson, have often sat in with the Giampetruzzis' latest ensemble, The Kate & Lou Band. The Otis Brothers -- For more than thirty years, Bob Guida and Pat Conte have been the Big Apple's preeminent interpreters of pre-blues, early blues and gospel music from the African American tradition as The Otis Brothers. Their recent critically-acclaimed album, The Return of the Otis Brothers: Let's Go to Huntin', showcases their estimable skills as multi-instrumentalists and singers. Both Bob and Pat are my bandmates in The Lucky Dogs, a new Roots & Blues group. Suzi Shelton -- Suzi is a dear friend who was my bandmate in The Imagination Workshop Band and Gillygaloo. Now she has embarked on a solo career performing her original songs and unique arrangements of favorites for kids and their grownups. In the Spring of 2005, Suzi released her critically- acclaimed debut solo album, Simply Suzi. Dan Zanes -- Dan Zanes needs no introduction to family music aficionados. A former rock star, Dan has devoted himself to making and promoting quality grassroots music for the whole family on his own label, Festival Five. If you haven't already, please be sure to check out the fun on his various fine recordings. I made a guest appearance on Dan's second album, Family Dance (2001), playing fiddle and concertina. For Dan's latest album, Parades & Panoramas (2004), I provided 27 historical photos of folks and their musical instruments for the accompanying 58 page booklet from my own collection and The Musical Eye, which I curate.
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* Yummie * Musical Styles * Instruments * Features * News * Contact * Links * * Banjo Roots: Banjo Beginnings ** The Ekonting: A Link to the Banjo's West African Heritage * Please s end mail to info@shlomomusic.com with questions or comments about this web site.Copyright © 2005 Shlomo Pestcoe. All rights reserved. Last modified: 02/01/09
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