Banjola Canada

2011-04-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

On April 21, in anticipation of The 2nd Annual Easter Sunday Banjolafest and Banjola Brunch, Duncan Fremlin and I were guests on Steve Fruitman's CIUT radio program "Back To The Sugar Camp'. We played a few tunes, talked banjolas and had a terrific time! Check out www.backtothesugarcamp.com to find a podcast of our show!

Happy Birthday Edward!

2011-03-04T06:23:00.000-08:00

In honour of Edward's (he who builds Victor Banjolas) birthday (which occured yesterday on March 3rd) I'm posting this picture of the Toronto contingent of Banjolas taken at a little jam Duncan Fremlin and I had the other night. That's Duncan's new 5 sting Classic model on the right, a beautiful bright sounding instrument that leaps to life when Duncan picks it up. My 6 string Presentation model sits in the middle and lying down on the floor is the Petite model that for the time being rests in Duncan's hands but is available for sale right here in Toronto!

Duncan and I were jamming some tunes that we're going to perform at The Second Annual Easter Sunday Banjolafest/Banjola Brunch which is going to be held at Malanie's Bistro, 1870 Danforth Ave. here in Toronto on Easter Sunday, April 24th, 2011. Brunch will be served at beginning at 11:00 am. Music will start at noon. Duncan and I will be joined by Edward and as well the illustrious Burke Carroll. We also hope to add other special guests!

We've got a little website up and running - just go to www.banjolabrunch.com for all the details!

The Soul Never Dies - Duncan Fremlin on the Petite Banjola

2011-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Banjola Canada Back Online!

2011-02-25T11:08:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I posted here at Banjola Canada - I'm not much of a blogger - but I promise to remedy that because so much is going on.

Back in November I took a little trip to Portland Oregon where I met up with and performed with the Banjola's originator Edward Dick. We had a great time playing and hanging out and I came back to Canada with a brand new Petite Banjola that Edward had just finished building. Check out www.banjolas.com/petite.htm for all the specs on the instrument. It has a shorter scale length than the longer neck versions and is tuned higher. It really seems to appeal to banjo players and it wasn't long before I had it in the hands of one of Toronto's most avid banjo players, Duncan Fremlin, of Whiskey Jack fame. Well it wasn't long before Duncan was a convert and next thing you know he's down in Denver meeting with Edward and deciding to get his own banjola, a Classic model.

Duncan and I have become great friends and he has also become my partner in organizing the upcoming 2nd Annual Easter Sunday Banjolafest here in Toronto. This year the Banjolafest is being expanded to include a Banjola Brunch. Duncan will be performing as will Edward and myself. I'll be posting more details about the event in the near future.

I'm very excited about all the Banjola developments that are taking place and I'll be posting regular updates from here on in!

Slow Down!

2010-10-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

First Banjola Session!

2009-11-30T14:18:00.001-08:00

Brought my new banjola to work today and had an opportunity to play it on a track being recorded by Adam Crossley for his soon to be released album. I also did banjo and mandolin on the track. The tune was in E major so I tuned the banjola to the regular C tuning (GGCGCD), tuned the low string down to F and then capoed up to the fourth fret. I then tuned the drone string to F# ( kind of by accident) and proceeded to play in E!

You can check out Adam at:

www.myspace.com/adamcrossley

and

www.adamcrossley.com

These photos show my Gibson mandolin, purchased in Philadelphia in 1977 and my old Stewart banjo which I got around the same time. All of these instruments came to me through my friendship with Edward!

Arrival!

2009-11-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

Looking somewhat like the monolith from 2001:A Space Odessey my banjola arrived in a big box from Denver this past Friday. I unpacked it and started playing it in between making dinner! It's an all round beauty! Sounds and looks amazing! Over the weekend I had a chance to pick it up and play it. I even composed a little instrumental ditty on it! I tried a few tunings other than the standard C tuning (GGCGCD) that I remembered from the jam sessions I had in Denver during Banjolafest including one where the low G string in dropped down to F and also a G tuning very similar to open G on a guitar. It's a ton of fun!

Patiently Awaiting Canada's First "Original" Banjola!

2009-11-18T17:28:00.000-08:00

How exciting! I spoke today to my old friend Edward, creator and builder of "The Original Banjola" about the imminent arrival of my very own banjola. It should arrive by the end of the week! Of course there will probably be the usual duties and customs etc. but I can't wait to get my hands on it. Edward and I decided that he should make one for me when I was down in Denver this summer for the first ever Colorado Banjolafest! Edward invited me down to both play and be the M.C. The one day festival took place near Denver on a beautiful property in Hygiene Colorado. The property was the home of one of the performers, Steve Mullins. He and his wife had graciously offered their location for the festival. Also performing were the amazing Grammy Award winning guitarist/banjolaist Al Petteway, Aaron O'Rourke a young dulcimur/banjola phenom from Florida, Tracy Leveque a transplanted Louisiana resident, and Edward himself. Go to http://www.banjolafest.com to find out more about the festival.

Edward has made three other instruments for me a steel string guitar, a nylon string guitar, and a dulcilyn, an early precurser to the banjola. Go to http://www.evd303.com to find out more about Edward and his career as instrument builder, luthier, and teacher! I've known Edward since 1976 when he owned and operated Ed's Music Workshop in Peterborough Ontario. I started out as a costumer, graduated to apprentice and band mate, and eventually landed as life long friend and golfing buddy!

So here I am in Toronto awaiting my banjola! All you banjo players and adventurous guitarists eat your heart out. When you see and hear this instrument you are going to wish you were me!