We posted last month about the upcoming revision to the IBMA’s Discover Bluegrass DVD, a major part of the organization’s efforts to cultivate interest in bluegrass music among younger students. Though most of the material in this video will remain unchanged, IBMA has tasked Phil Bankester with updating the open and close of the project, and the Bluegrass Music Today chapter, which was feeling more like Bluegrass Music Yesterday six years out.

The original was hosted by fresh-faced youngsters Sierra Hull and Ryan Holladay, and with Sierra in college and Ryan about to finish high school, it seemed like time for a change. In AJ Lee and Max Schwartz, they have found another mandolin/banjo duo to take the bluegrass message to the adolescent masses.

Phil shared an update on the progress of the project.

“Aissa (AJ) and Max flew into Nashville Friday along with AJ’s mom, and Max’s dad and brother Nate. We spent time Saturday recording voice overs and setting up the set which you see in the photo. The video shoot took place in the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday morning. The kids have never done anything like this before, but they both did an incredible job.

They had a great time in Nashville touring the Country Music Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon, then cheering their San Jose Sharks to a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators in a hockey game at the Sommet Center. Following the game they stopped into The Station Inn to see The Josh Williams Band.

AJ, Max, Nate (Max’s brother) and another Californian Marty Varner all play together in a band they call OMGG (obviously minor guys and a girl). AJ has also been playing and singing with Jack Tuttle and The Tuttles.”

This completes the shooting for the project, and now it’s editing time.

Here’s a video of OMGG from IBMA 2009.

A recent release from Homespun Video, Jens Kruger’s Banjo Method For Beginners, subtitled An Easy and Joyful Way to Start Picking, is available on DVD for all regions.

Kruger is a Swiss banjo virtuoso who has gained a considerable amount of popularity in recent years performing as part of the Kruger Brothers, the rest of which accompany Jens on this DVD. The band will be performing with Doc Watson in just a few days at the Help for Haiti benefit concert in Wilkesboro, NC. Check their tour schedule for more info.

The DVD is 90 minutes of instruction aimed at beginners to the instrument.

Here’s the product description from Homespun’s website.

Banjo virtuoso Jens Kruger has devised a uniquely satisfying way for beginners to get started on this great American instrument. His is a completely different approach to learning to play the banjo: it’s liberating, inspiring and will allow anyone to make music in minutes. Even if you already play the banjo there will be revelations here for you.

Jens’ approach is based on playing a simple melody line surrounded by open drone notes. You only have to play one string at a time, finding the tune by ear as you slide up and down the fingerboard. By combining this with a simple forward roll, your songs sound full and deceptively complex.

This easy but highly musical lesson will teach anyone to play the melodies to songs such as Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Aunt Rhody, Grandfather’s Clock, Wildwood Flower, Old Folks at Home, Shady Grove and other favorites in the three-finger banjo style.

Rhythmic backup by the Kruger Brothers Band adds a rich and cohesive sound and enables you to play along with Jens for productive practice sessions.

The DVD is available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and directly from Homespun. Homespun offers the project on both DVD and as a direct download.

Last night (2/8) saw the 2010 awards from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) handed out in Nashville. Unfortunately, the awards show was in competition with the Super Bowl broadcast, and a large political event in town, both of which sucked up all the media coverage that might have gone to this function.

SPBGMA is notoriously slow in sending out information on their awards show, and we have been struggling this morning to get official results. Perhaps the best bet is to pass along what we have been able to find out, with periodic updates throughout the day.

SPBGMA hands out these awards to instrumentalists, vocalists, bands, writers, festivals and radio hosts with many of the awards segmented into traditional and contemporary categories.

• Contemporary female vocalist:  Rhonda Vincent
• Traditional female vocalist: Alecia Nugent
• Traditional male vocalist: James King
• Contemporary male vocalist: Jamie Daley
• Entertaining group: Nothin’ Fancy
• Gospel group contemporary: Dailey & Vincent
• Gospel group traditional: Paul William & Victory Trio
• Vocal group: Dailey & Vincent
• Entertainer: Rhonda Vincent
• Group: Grascals
• Banjo player: Aaron McDaris
• Mandolin player: Alan Bibey
• Fiddle player: Hunter Berry
• Guitar player: Josh Williams
• Dobro player: Tim Graves
• Bass player: Darin Vincent
• Album: Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice
• Song: Amanda Lynn, Lou Reid & Carolina
• Songwriter: Tom T. & Dixie Hall
• Radio station: WDVX
• Radio host: Brenda Lawson
• Festival promoter: Bertie Sullivan

Congratulations to all the winners! More details as we find them…

UPDATE 2/9: We have gotten the list of winners from SPBGMA, along with a mea culpa and plea for patience from Suzanne Elmore. They have been hit by the same winter weather that has paralyzed much of the east coast of the USA.

“I am so sorry the speed of delivery of the results has been slow.  I have definitely heard about it. We are a volunteer organization, with a volunteer webmaster with no power and 8 inches of snow.

Forgive us, we are not instantaneously electronic. I am working with all sincerity to get these posted.”

All winners are now listed above. Results of the band contest are:

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for their impressive Super Bowl victory. I know that their are plenty of Who Datz in the bluegrass nation, and I’m sure they are savoring the moment.

Once again, the commercials between game segments were a big focus of the evening’s entertainment and it appears that the breakaway winner this year is the fiddlin’ beaver, brought to us courtesy of Monster.com.

One presumes that Monster was able to get this little guy his big break. Don’t all you fiddlers rush to Monster at once!