International Jazz Banjo Newsletter

This year of reprieve for GLIB proved to be no different than any previous year, it continues to get better each year. An early couple of banjo players, getting ready to jam on Wednesday evening, were enticed into the bar. There they entertained the bar patrons, until the number of banjo players grew to more than the audience. Bill Jackson had to encourage everybody to repair to the atrium, where a continuously growing number of banjo players played into the small hours. A good rousing start for the 2007 GLIB convention.
Thursday was set up time for the display rooms, but this did not distract from the atrium jamming, which started early in the morning and again, carried on into the small hours. Meanwhile, guests from all over the USA and Canada, continued to arrive, immediately joining the festivities. When Greg Allen arrived, he was enthusiastically greeted, everybody was pleased to see that he looked like a new man. About 3:00 pm, several banjo players went out to entertain at a local Dearborn nursing home.
Friday was not very different, except that several small groups were finding every nook and cranny in the hotel (there are many), to rehearse for their part of the evening show. Also, there were workshops and the ladies special event to attend. Another group of banjo players went to entertain at the Dearborn Skippers club.
Because the ballroom was not available for GLIB, until very late Thursday, the extensive stage sound system was still being set up until about 10 minutes before the show started on Friday. There was an angry crowd at the door that had been standing in line waiting well over an hour to get in. They were consoled by the GLIB door attendants, with mint candy, water and much sympathy. When the doors finally were opened, there was a wild rush of enthusiastic geriatrics, to get to the prime seats. Actually, there is not a bad seat in the house.
There were no seats reserved this year for honoured guest, Dr. Ford Topping and his wife Laura. They both decided to help the Jackson Banjo club as stage hands (the best stage hands in the business), Ford working his walker frame with the greatest of skill.
The evening show was initiated by words from president Bill Jackson, who introduced MC, Dr. Joe Sundell. Joe was also playing with and speaking for the Ban-Joes of Michigan band, traditionally, opening the show with Alabama Jubilee. They were followed by the Riverboat Rats from Dayton Ohio, who put on their usual lively show, with excellent vocals by recruits from the Kettering Banjo Society. Then came the Appearing Together Quartet, a Michigan group, followed by Roy Hill from Ontario, Canada. The last act before intermission was Greg Allen and friends, breaking all of the banjo players speed limits as he has always done. It is good to have Greg still with us, after his life threatening ordeal with cancer. Greg’s own composition, Don’t Ever be a Stranger, had special meaning when he sang it this year.
After the interval, the Flint Banjo Club band got the audience hopping again with their usual very lively performance. Then came 18 year old Paul Doerner from California, a graduate of the Capitol Kids band. Paul demonstrated to us that the banjo is not just for older people, youth is coming aboard with gusto. Paul was followed by Mal Cooper and friends, Bill Moynian, Ernie May and friends, then Dr. Jeff Grosser. The evening show was concluded by Johnny Baier, who gave us news that the Four String Banjo Hall of Fame Museum, had been successful, in retrieving a very large collection of antique, one of a kind banjos, from Germany. Some funds were borrowed to complete the transaction, so further financial contributions are still required to support this significant purchase.
The time was late, but this did not prevent a large group of banjo players and people from the show audience, jamming and watching on the atrium, again well into the small hours.
A sleepy crowd came out of their rooms early on Saturday morning, to have breakfast while the Brunch Band performed. This got the day of to a good start, with workshops, display room activity, as well as small groups again finding every nook and cranny to rehearse for their evening performance in the show. This time they were competing with other groups trying to rehearse for the Saturday afternoon Matinee. Meanwhile, the atrium jamming continued endlessly, as usual and as expected.
The afternoon matinee was MC’d by Roy Hill. He introduced the first act, the Raggle Taggle band from Michigan, who played some Celtic music with a twist towards modern swing. Then came a Little bit of Country, players from the Ban-Joes of Michigan, who switched their banjos for piano accordion and guitars. Next was 17 year old Ryan Maike, a graduate of the Next Generation Banjo Band, playing his first solo performance in front of a large audience. Ryan also demonstrated that the banjo will stay alive, as youth gets involved. Ryan performed flawlessly. He was followed by the Bob Moyes Trio, from Dayton, then Side by Side, a Michigan group led by Bill Jackson. As there had been a couple of show cancellations, Paul Doerner was invited back to conclude the show. Paul continued to suffer frequent friendly harassment by a Canadian member of the audience, but he got his own back by telling a very good Canadian joke.
There was barely time to get dinner, before the evening show started. This time, MC’d by Dr Phil Cain from Springfield, Ohio, who missed GLIB last year due to a bout with heart bypass surgery. It was good to have him back. He introduced the Windsor Banjo Club Band, led by Eric Mainwaring, who performed some different and unusual music for a banjo band. This was followed by Al Allotta and friends. Picks & Sticks came next, still “freshly” dressed from their day job at Greenfield Village, where they played the part of hobo’s. They performed their usual exciting music, later turning the audience into a wild frenzy, as Sherry played the hammer dulcimer faster and faster, simulating the Cherry Blossom Special, running late.
Chris Archer, who we have not seen for a while was next, he thanked the organizers for putting him on after Picks & Sticks. As well as playing some great music, Chris had some interesting things to tell about his experience as a cruise ship entertainer. Next was the Ross Hubbell trio from Chicago, who played very exciting Django Reinhardt style music, with driving enthusiasm. The first half of the show was concluded by Girls, Girls, Girls, led by appreciated volunteer, Linda Lehmann. Helen Beneteau, who has organized and led Girls, Girls, Girls for many years, had been too unwell to lead this year, but still helped greatly to get it organized. While Girls, Girls, Girls, were setting up, Bill Jackson introduced and thanked the GLIB committee and others who helped with the convention, including the repeat attendee’s in the audience.
The second half of the Saturday night show was MC’d by L. J. Brown, from Louisiana. It started with the GLIB band, followed by the Banjo Busters. Then came Joe Rodeo, John Ruskinoff and Jim Barrett from Chicago. Buddy Wachter concluded the show, showing his skill on the banjo, then inviting Ross Hubbell to join him. Finally, Johnny Baier came on stage, this fantastic group made a lively and unforgetful end to the GLIB 2007 concert series.
As usual, after the show, the atrium was swarming with banjo players jamming until the small hours of the morning, with members of the show audience finding what seating they could.
What a fitting end to GLIB 2007.

Submitted by Derek Channing