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RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE BANJO PROJECT WEBSITE

Interview transcripts from Joe Thompson, Tony Ellis, George Gibson, and Don Vappie. GO

Edited footage of an interview and Performances by Abigail Washburn and Leroy Troy.

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Bill Monroe

Daniel Jatta
Daniel Jatta

Rhiannon Giddens
Painting by Mary Cassatt

 

We owned our first radio in 1935. The first bluegrass I heard was the Monroe Brothers. We wouldn't miss a program of theirs after we got a radio where we could hear 'em. They'd come on if I remember right, 7:15 in the morning. […] They had a good program and it caused us to lay our banjo down. That was the end of the banjo. No more reasons to play the banjo no more. They had somebody who had better instruments and could play it better. Rather listen to them than play it.

~ Bruce Clark,
interview with M. Fields, Lexington, VA
August 2003

NOW IN PRODUCTION

Performances

The Banjo Project documentary weaves together rare archival footage and recordings with the narratives of historic banjo figures such as Joel Walker Sweeney, Dan Emmett, Lotta Crabtree, S.S. Stewart, Vess Ossman, Dock Boggs, Gus Cannon, Uncle Dave Macon, Elizabeth Cotton and Elmer Snowden. Contemporary banjo players—Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Taj Mahal, Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, Mac Benford, Cynthia Sayer, Bela Fleck and others—provide the commentary. Many of those interviewed will also perform on camera, demonstrating ideas and techniques on their instruments, and performing in a public venue or in more intimate settings recorded especially for The Banjo Project.

Bill, Bela, and Tony

Performances include excerpts from the legendary "New York Banjo" concert at The Egg in Albany, NY, (October 2002)

  • Informal jam sessions at festivals, backstage and private homes…
  • Banjo competitions
  • Rare historical footage of past masters
  • And intimate solo performances created solely for this program.

horizontal rule “Song of the Traveling Daughter”
Abigail Washburn, banjo & Ben Sollee, cello
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Leroy Troy
horizontal rule “Banjo Pickin’ Girl”
Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, Lalenja Harrington.
horizontal rule “Songcatcher”
Taj Mahal (banjo) performs a piece he wrote for the film Songcatcher. Recorded at the home of Jim Bollman, Arlington, MA in September 2004.
horizontal rule “Minor Swing”
Chris Leske (banjo), Mike Marshall (mandolin), Craig Vance (guitar)
Recorded at The New York Banjo Concert, at The Egg in Albany, NY, Oct 13, 2002
horizontal rule “Half Past Four/Boatman”
Mac Benford (banjo), and Bruce Molsky (fiddle)
Recorded at The New York Banjo Concert, at The Egg in Albany, NY, Oct 13, 2002
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