Nedski with Steve and Tony
We got a note this morning from Ned Luberecki, banjo player extraordinaire, and one of the hosts of the Sirius Satellite Radio Bluegrass channel.
Ned had been out with Tony Trischka this past week, supplying the second banjo for a string of dates in support of Tony’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular CD, and told us that they had a surprise guest for Thursday’s show at The Cutting Room in New York City, in the person of Steve Martin.
“Tony told me earlier in the day that he had emailed Steve about the gig, not even knowing if Steve was in New York. We didn’t actually know that he was going to be there until just before show time. We had just a few minutes to rehearse before they opened the doors to the club, so we went over the triple banjo version of ‘The Crow’ with Steve playing the melody, Tony on the second and me on the third part. Then Tony asked if Steve would like to play anything else on the show.
Steve started playing a tune and asked if we wanted to figure it out. The song was ‘Pitkin County Turnaround’ which Steve had recorded on his ‘Steve Martin Brothers’ album. After Steve played through it once, I took a solo. Steve seemed surprised that I knew it. Afterward he asked me how I learned it so fast. I told him that I learned it from his record… 25 or 30 years ago!
For the record, I got my first banjo, and two Steve Martin records for Christmas the same year. If you were to look at those albums, you’d probably see the grooves worn clean on the parts where he played the banjo.
All joking aside, Steve was my original inspiration for starting to play the banjo. The first song I learned from a record (without tab) was his version of ‘8 More Miles To Louisville’ (which was part of his ‘You can’t play a sad song on the banjo’ bit). And believe it or not, I learned ‘Sally Goodin’ from the flip side of the 45 of ‘King Tut’ even before learning it from the Earl Scruggs book.”
Take that all you people who insist that Steve Martin had no impact as a banjo player!
Ned also passed along this photo from a show he did with Tony back in October where they were joined by Bela Fleck for another Triple Banjo Bluegrass Extravaganza.
He also mentioned that there are a number of video clips from the recent Trischka dates up on YouTube.
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We have written a good bit this year about Tony Trischka's latest CD, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular. Each of the project's 14 tracks feature Tony performing in duet (with a full band) along with other prominent banjo pickers, including such luminaries as Earl Scruggs, Scott Vestal, Tom Adams and...
Tony Trischka is in Los Angeles today to tape an appearance for The Ellen DeGeneres Show with banjo picking comedian/actor Steve Martin. This show is set to air on Thursday, February 8. Times vary from one market to another.
They will perform their double banjo version of Martin's tune, The Crow,...
As one would have expected, someone has posted the video from Tony Trischka and Steve Martin's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last Thursday up on YouTube.
They were on to promote Tony's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular CD, and played one of Steve's compositions from the project, The Crow.
The...
Here's a late Christmas present from Sirius Bluegrass...
Later this morning, they will present a live, in-studio performance of the music from Tony Trischka's award-winning recording, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular. The CD features Tony in duet with some of the most prominent pickers ever to set...
As we could have predicted, a video capture of the recent triple banjo performance on The Late Show with David Letterman has made its way to YouTube. The clip is taken from Wednesday's program (4/26) and features Steve Martin, Tony Trischka and Bela Fleck playing Martin's The Crow, one of 14 double banjo...
The Tony Trischka piece on NPR's Weekend Edition which Brance mentioned on Saturday can now be heard online. It ran earlier today on most NPR radio affiliates.
Tony appeared along with Steve Martin and Bela Fleck to discuss his new Rounder CD, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.
Hear the segment...
In an earlier post, Casey Henry mentioned what a kick she got from knowing that she and Steve Martin played the same kind of banjo, referring to her recent signature model Kel Kroydon banjo.
I asked KK owner Tom Mirisola to tell us a bit more about the Steve Martin connection...
This all came about...
We made note late last year of the fact that comedian, actor and banjo player Steve Martin was preparing to record an album of serious banjo music.
The recording has been completed, produced by fellow banjo man John McEuen, with assistance from Tony Trischka and Pete Wernick. Helping out in the studio...
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Hey! Who doesn’t love Martin for his pickin’ as well as his acting?
We (The WWB WorldWideBluegrass.com)play music by all three of these handsome fellas… Luberecki, Trischka and of course MARTIN!!
Now – on my Christmas wish list – is an interview with all three, either individually or seperately!!
Individually or seperately? Did I really post that? Ok.. geesh..I meant to say seperately or all three on one interview! I guess I’ll blame it on the stress of Christmas rush and the excitement of seeing the 3(Bluegrass) Amigos pictured on the Bluegrass blog!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
I just want to point out that in the picture of Ned and Tony with Bela, taken at a Habitat for Humanity benefit in Wilmore, KY, Ned has me so completely blocked that all you can see of me is a sliver of my forearm. Thanks a lot, Nedski!
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