International Jazz Banjo Newsletter

The 2006 GLIB convention (which was billed as the last) after 17 years, was full of rumours, that the program might continue, after all. Finally, chairman Bill Jackson announced during the concerts that because of re-negotiations with the hotel, there might be a GLIB convention in 2007. There are still many open issues and the GLIB committee will decide on whether or not to continue by June 2006.
Probably because it was published as the last GLIB convention, there was a record attendance from all over North America. The convention continued to be “the best GLIB convention” ever, as it has done progressively, each year. Every aspect this year was better than last year, the jamming, the workshops, the display rooms, the play outs, the concerts, even the weather.
Most considered that the Doubletree Hotel renovations and changes, made the hotel an improvement over the previous Holiday Inn décor and set-up. The rooms had been renovated, there were no complaints about room service. Highlights of the concerts were the club bands, including the Windsor Banjo Club band, which put on a great and different musical program after the break on Friday evening. Most of the SE Michigan clubs had bands playing, plus a good entourage from the Toronto Banjo Band, Canada. The Jackson Banjo Club did their usual excellent service as stage hands, they are the best in the business.
The other big groups like the GLIB band and Girls, Girls, Girls were great too. The second line dancers from Petoskey, Michigan stole the show with their bikini costumes. The GLIB police had to arrest a couple of cross dressers attempting to join the Girls band lineup. Many of the girls in the band made a real effort and were considerably more attractive than their beautiful gold plated banjo’s!
All of the concert acts were excellent, but special mention should go to some. Picks N’Sticks, with their star singer Bruno (a dog!) from Mexico had the audience totally captured. The Riverboat Rats got the audience involved with “Those Were the Days”. The Dixieland Swingers closed the Friday night show with the usual outstanding performance by young David Bennett on clarinet. Dave has played at every GLIB concert, since he was 13 years old. He is now 21. Regular performers on Friday included Charlie Khederian, Mal Cooper, Dr. Jeff Grosser and Ernie May.
On Saturday afternoon the early emphasis was on youth, with “the Next generation Banjo Band” (who after a flawless performance, were asked for an encore), followed by 17 year old Paul Dernier, from the “Capital Kids” band in California. Paul also performed in the Friday night concert. The matinee also included “Side by Side” and “Spur of the Moment”. Dick and Helen Martin closed the matinee.
Special guest, Jack Convery from California, put on an excellent performance both Friday evening and during the Saturday afternoon matinee. Jack has recently released a new CD, “Beatles on the Banjo”, he played some selections from the CD, as well as the normal “tin pan alley” music.
Highlights of the Saturday evening concert was again, Dick and Helen Martin, plus the “Appearing Together” quartet, who played some interesting music from Simon and Garfunkel. Also performing were Frank Costa, Ralph Martin with his “Oregon Trail Riders” and John Ruskinoff. The Saturday night concert was closed at breathtaking speed, with a fantastic performance by Greg Allen and friends.
After the Saturday night concert intermission, the GLIB committee were introduced, as they are every year. Special this year (because it was assumed to be the last), GLIB Chairman Bill Jackson and his wife Sandy, were presented with a commemorative plaque of the GLIB logo, from the committee, to thank them for 15 years of dedicated service to GLIB. Vern and Avis Nelson were also presented with a similar plaque, for their forethought and hard work, bringing together the six Great Lakes area banjo Clubs, to get this event off of the ground in 1989. The now very familiar and distinctive logo, was designed at that time by the late Lou Marvicsin. Notable honoured guests attending the concerts, with reserved front row seats, were Charlie and Virginia Khederian, as well as Dr. Ford Topping and his wife Laura, now from Lansing, Michigan.
On Friday and Saturday after the concerts, jamming went on until the small hours. The hotel atrium had people standing in the walkways, both nights. Jamming also went on during the day, except during the concerts. The display rooms buzzed with activity and several instruments changed hands. There was also lots of activity with luthiers adjusting instruments for attendees. Outside activities included a trip to the Dearborn Commodores Club, as well as a Dearborn Nursing Home. There were also activities for the “banjo widows”, along with the dedicated card room.
The possibility that there will be a Great Lakes Banjo Convention in 2007, is a "definite maybe".
Submitted by Derek Channing