The Secret Life Of Banjos

California bluegrass banjo player Bill Evans has teamed with the legendary old-time and bluegrass musician Jody Stecher to present an all-banjo duo show that they call The Secret Life of Banjos. For these shows, the pair play on a dozen vintage and reproduction instruments in styles that range from bluegrass to old-time, including bits of classic, minstrel and more.

“Playing with Jody is one of most exciting things I’ve ever experienced in my entire career. Jody has influenced several generations of players, from Pete Wernick to Laurie Lewis and I consider myself lucky to count myself as another musician under his sphere of influence. His knowledge of the banjo, as well as the history of old-time and bluegrass music is simply astounding.”

You can hear Jody and Bill in conversation and making music online this coming Saturday, January 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (PST) on Peter Thompson’s celebrated Bluegrass Signal radio show. This show can be heard locally in the San Francisco Bay Area on KALW 91.7 FM or streamed live on the web. The show is also re-streamed several times each week on bluegrasscountry.org.

You can learn more about The Secret Life of Banjos and hear concert excerpts on their web site. They plan to perform their show at festivals and concerts all over the world, mixing entertainment and something of a mini-banjo education in for good measure.

Introducing Bill Evans

It's a great pleasure to introduce Bill Evans as a Guest Contributor. Bill is one of my oldest friends in the bluegrass world, and I take a measure of personal pride in seeing the success he has achieved as both a performer, and an educator. He and I were young banjo seekers together in Norfolk, VA...

Tim Graves & Cherokee shuffle

Tim Graves & Cherokee, have shuffled around the on-stage lineup to welcome the newest full-time member of the band. Long standing member Joe Miller has moved from guitar to banjo, opening the way for Jody Elmore to join the group on the five-string. Jody hails from Gordo, AL, and has been filling...

Bill Evans – Banjo For Dummies

No one who has attended one of Bill Evans' banjo workshops, or studied using one of his popular AcuTab banjo DVDs, would ever accuse him of being a dummy. In addition to his prominent work in music as a teacher, performer, composer, producer and booking agent, Bill holds a Master's Degree in Music from...

Jody Rainwater in ill health

Penny Parsons passed along this word about one of the legends from the early days of bluegrass music. Penny is a bluegrass writer and photographer who currently manages the performance career of Curly Seckler. Jody Rainwater (a.k.a Chuck Johnson), who spent two years as a Foggy Mountain Boy in the...

Benefit Concert for Jody King

In October of 2006 banjo player Jody King fell off a ladder and broke his pelvis. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery. One month later he was back in the hospital for two additional surgeries to treat infection. He continues to wear a wound vac, and visits his doctor 3 times weekly. In addition...

Bill Evans: The Banjo in America

Known far and wide as a scholar specializing in banjo music, Bill Evans is bring the banjo to America. Bill performs in variety of ensemble settings, including his band Rustler's Moon, and shows with fiddler Megan Lynch. Bill also works as an instructor at many banjo camps and workshops, and he is...

Jody King Benefit rescheduled

Due to inclement weather, the benefit concert for Jody King has been rescheduled for Sunday January 28, 3-6 pm at the Fairview Ruritan Club in Galax, VA. http://www.bluegrassingalax.com/JKing.html...

WSVS begins webcasting

WSVS, AM 800 in Crewe, VA has been a radio home to bluegrass music since the station's inception in 1947. The station became most closely associated with bluegrass through the involvement of Charles Johnson (Little Jody Rainwater), who joined the station after leaving The Foggy Mountain Boys. Flatt &...

Happy Birthday to Little Jody Rainwater

Charles Johnson is better known to bluegrass fans as Little Jody Rainwater, bass player with bluegrass legends Flatt & Scruggs during the early 1950s. Today is Jody's 89th birthday, and the radio station that he called home after departing from the band, WSVS, is celebrating. Beginning at 2:45...

UT/Knoxville hosts banjo history exhibit

The University Of Tennessee at Knoxville's McClung Museum is currently hosting a Special Exhibit on the history of the banjo. Entitled The Banjo: From Africa to America and Beyond, the exhibit is a mix of art, photos, instruments and live performances and will be housed at the McClung Museum through...

Bluegrass fusion at The Blue Note

The legendary New York jazz club, Blue Note, will host six days of jazz/bluegrass fusion next month. Bill Evans' Soulgrass is booked January 23-28, with Sam Bush on mandolin and Tony Trischka on banjo. They join noted jazz saxophonist Evans with Dave Wecki on drums, Richard Bona on bass and Christian...

History of the Banjo on BBC

BBC Radio 4 FM carried a 30 minute program yesterday on the history of the banjo. It is set to air again on January 29 from 11:00-11:30 p.m. (GMT), but it can also be heard on the BBC web site in its entirety. The perspective is decidedly British, as one might expect, and the approach is serious...