International Jazz Banjo Newsletter

We are still here - The String Trio S.H.! Christoph Cringle bjo, Kai Stemmler b, Karl-Heinz Kircher g). Since one year we have two new bassists (doublebass / tuba).If one is not able to play, the other one does. Both had to work a lot to know our rather big goodtime – Music - Repertoire (Ragtime, Novelty, Classic, Musical, Dixiland)Now we are able again to do three – hour –gigs and longer. The top had been a Performance at „Honky Tonk Festival“ which lasted five hours.
Our plans are to build the trio into a quartett, by adding a violinist. It will be nice, to change playing of melody over from banjo to violin and back. We now want to work out Bach´s „Concerto for two violins and piano in d - minor“.
Meanwhile I can play „Violin 2“ on tenorbanjo – this 2nd voice sounds nice itself
but ist great music to listen to both voices banjo and violin, bass and guitar.
Another recommendation from J. S. Bach´s Inventions for piano: „Inventio Nr 13“ is worth to work out! Players will be able to find out fingering on tenorbanjo (violinkey - melody)! If you add bass or tuba playing the bassline you will listen to mysterious – soundfull, „Bach - like“ baroque Musik...
Here´s a tip for one of our few public gigs:(we mostly play on events like birthdays, openings, representations, ... the typcal jazzquartett- oder –trio- gigs ...)6. Schleswig – Holstein Amateur Oldtime Jazz Festival Sa., 03. September 2005, Fachklinik Schleswig, Mühlenredder 2, 24837 Schleswig. String Trio: 20.30 Uhr bis 21.30 Uhr Bühne Mühlenredder 2.
Don´t visit String Trio´s website! (under construction –guestbook is trashed with lots of advertising). If you have questions – call me (Tel.: 04841 / 74161) or email me: (ABCCringle@t-online.de).

Kind regards
Christoph Cringle
ABCCringle@t-online.de

As the weather changed from sunshine to snow, 323 banjo enthusiasts converged on the Holiday Inn Dearborn for the 16th annual Great Lakes International Banjo Convention. The finest banjo strummin’ and pickin’ from as far away as Germany and the Netherlands and all points of the United States and Canada was about to begin.
At 4 PM Wednesday the first string was struck and the atrium came alive with banjo music. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments offered by the Holiday Inn as a welcome to the convention lured the players away for a short while. After the party, the music continued until 2:30 AM. From April 21st through 23rd, the weather outside was frightful, but inside the music and camaraderie were delightful.
Thursday was a day for jamming and greeting old friends. Dorothy Ruskinoff, Shirley Derderian and Ann Brunk were busy registering everyone, so they could hurry to the jam session already in progress. Eleanore Hausner and Richard Beneteau had pre-arranged to have leaders and sound at these jams to keep them running smoothly. Bob Vidamour and John Ruskinoff readied the display area and vendors began filling the tables. Displaying their wares were: Al Schelgel, Victor Songrady, Don Stevison, Dan Petrella, Vic Williams, Bob Moyes, Barb Archer, Ann Allotta, Bob Anderson, Charlie Khederian, Derek Channing (New Generation Banjo Band), Dave Frey, Johnny Baier, Buddy Wachter, Tyler Jackson, Ray and Alice Jaworski and Cathy Van Oosterwyk. Skilled musicians were selling their tapes, instruction books, shirts, various banjo parts, and trying out new instruments while Jim Lyon, Gil O’Gawa and Jim Farquhar patiently repaired banjos. Nora and Tom Griffin decorated the stage area for the shows that would begin Friday evening.
At 6 o’clock in the evening, Ernie May and a caravan of banjo players went to the Oakwood Commons Retirement Village to entertain for their second year. After the gig, they returned and joined the other jammers in the atrium playing until 3 o’clock in the morning.
Friday morning with the jamming well underway, Ernie May once again gathered his loyal troops, and just before noon headed for they’re outside gig at the Dearborn Historical Museum. The memory of doughnuts and coffee was too much for the regulars and they ran downstairs at the Museum to collect their refreshments before starting their performance. Good thing, because the hot coffee kept their fingers agile enough to get through an hour of playing in 50-degree weather.
Back at the Inn, Corinne Sundell had arranged a 1 PM program for antique lovers. A licensed antique appraiser and certified dealer, Bany Lou Mearin, was there to answer questions and appraise non- musical collectables. The program was well attended. They brought jewelry, pictures and other antiques for appraisal. One ring appraised for $12,000.00. Needless to say, one lady had a big smile on her face.
With banjos still ringing in the atrium, some people began preparing for the 7 PM stage shows. Paul Stirling had to rearrange a couple of performances, but the shows were pretty well etched in stone. With over 40 performances, there was little space for error, and although the shows would be long, the schedule would accommodate everyone.
Thanks to Bob Brunk there were plenty of programs for those of us who perpetually forget to carry them. Sandy Vidamour and Sandy Jackson were hosts for all shows.
Dean Pelham’s Jackson Banjo Band Stage Crew was ready to work, and then promptly at 7 PM, MC, Dr. Joe Sundell introduced the Ban-Joes of Michigan, from the Detroit area, directed by Jim Scott. Following them was Mike Dunn, Livonia MI, Joachim Hippenstiel from Germany and Friends, Arno Hagenaars and Erwin Leijs from the Netherlands, Don Lint and the Happy Time Banjos of Traverse City, MI, Scott Whitfield from Dallas, TX, Pix N’Stix, Northville, MI, Jersey Jammers of Garfield, NJ, The Riverboat Rats, Dayton OH and Buddy Wachter from Baltimore, MD. After a 10 minute intermission, Dr. Joe introduced The Windsor Banjo Club led by Eric Mannering, followed by Dave Frey of Santa Rosa, CA, Mal Cooper, Gray, TN, Banjo Busters under direction of Glenn Peisker, Dick and Helen Martin from Sweethome, OR, Ernie May and Friends of Oxford, MI, The Sacramento Banjo Band of the Sacramento, CA area, Dale Fogle from New Kensington, PA and for the evening finale, Greg Allen and the Snook Haven Chamber Music Society of Venice, FL. These acts were all flawless and kept everyone in their seats for the entire show. Everyone was anxious to get back to the "Atrium Jam" where there was a full house until nearly 3 AM.
Saturday Morning started with a brunch and entertainment by Vern Nelson’s Senior Dixieland Band. Dan Stucky arranged workshops given by Dave Frey on plectrum banjo, "How and What to practice every day", Arno Hagenaars from the Netherlands on tenor banjo," the Harry Reser and Djanjo Reinhardt Technique," Scott Whitfield on tenor banjo, "Arranging your banjo solos and playing rhythm banjo" and Buddy Wachter with a variety of banjo innovations.
Showtime came early on Saturday with the concert beginning at 2 PM. MC, Roy Hill of London, ON, Canada opened the afternoon concert with the Next Generation Banjo Band, a group of youth players directed by Dereck Channing and Skip Rosenthal from the Detroit, MI area followed by Side By Side of Wyandotte, MI, Spur of the Moment Band directed by Dick Rose from the Davison, MI area, Dr. Joan Dickerson of Pitsburgh, PA, Stirling Silver from Flint, MI area and taking last call, Buddy Wachter and Johnny Baier.
There was barely time to get a bite to eat and then start getting ready for the evening show. At 7 PM, MC. John Green from CA introduced The Flint Banjo Club, under the direction of Don Kinder, following them were the Al Allotta Trio of Wyandotte, MI, John Ruskinoff from Toledo, OH. Taking a few precious minutes, Chairman of the convention, Bill Jackson introduced all of the committee who work on GLIB to make it such a big success. The concert resumed with Girls-Girls-Girls under the direction of Helen Beneteau, Jim Barrett from Bensenville, IL, Johnny Baier of Edmund, OK, A Little Bit of Country, Dave Meyers of Warren, MI, and the sensational duo from the Netherlands, Aaron Hagenaars on banjo and Erwin Leijs playing piano.
After a short intermission, MC, Dr. Phil Cain introduced the GLIB BAND directed by Dolores Borrow followed by Charlie Khederian, then 16 yr old Paul Doerner of Loomis CA, Frank Costa from Totowa, NJ, Ralph Martin and the Oregon Trail Riders, 19 yr old Tyler Jackson of Houston, TX and closing out the shows, the brilliant clarinet music of 20 yr old Dave Bennett with the Dixieland Swingers led by Orval Marlow of Clarkston MI
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All performances were done with such perfection that this was truly an outstanding event. As the last act ended, everyone went back to jamming. Banjos played on until well after 3 AM. Sunday morning. Plans are made for the 17th annual GLIB Convention in 2006. The dates are April 20-21-22 at Holiday Inn Dearborn, MI. See you next year.