International Jazz Banjo Newsletter

Wednesday may be Prince Spaghetti Day in the North End of Boston, but Wednesday Night is Banjo Night on the Northside of Pittsburgh. That’s because the Pittsburgh Banjo Club has been holding open rehearsals there on Wednesday nights for 20 years. And if club members have their way, they’ll be doing it for many years to come.
The Pittsburgh Banjo Club plays music that is classic Americana – a mix of Dixieland and Pop from years now long gone by. The most contemporary piece they play is a 40-year-old Beatles tune. To keep things interesting they mix in a few twists, like a Japanese version of the Tennessee Waltz, a German love song from World War I and the occasional polka. With such a program, you might expect a “silver-haired” crowd, but you would be wrong. The audience has as many members of Generations X, Y and Z as Generations A, B and C. The energy is high, the music lively and the interactions between audience members – and the orchestra – fun and friendly. There are a variety of snacks and foods available (proceeds benefit the Pennsylvania Elks Home Service Program) and, of course, your favorite beverages. All are quite reasonably priced.
The Pittsburgh Banjo Club is a non-profit organization with a membership comprised of men and women from all walks of life. They are dedicated to preserving the music of the Golden Age of the Banjo (1920 – 1930) by the most effective method there is: playing it! The club was founded in 1988 by Frank Rossi, a member of the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame. There are 87 members ranging in age from 8 to 93 and running the gamut from rank beginner to seasoned professional musician. The great majority of the members play the four-string banjo, but the orchestra also includes a six-string banjo, an eight-string mandolin banjo, bass, trumpets and a tuba.
The club performs 30 – 40 times per year and when they do their wardrobe is as bright and cheerful as their music. Members receive no fee for performances, but the club does. These fees and other fund-raising activities are used to cover expenses and provide for the club’s ongoing operations. All profits realized are donated to local charities. To date such donations total in excess of $65,000!
Over the years the club has developed a loyal following. Fans and supporters have been known to attend out-of-town performances in locations such as North Carolina and New Orleans. And of course they turn out in high numbers when the club appears locally, like their annual appearances at Kennywood Park and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games. Rehearsals start every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at Elks Lodge #339 and all are welcome. The orchestra plays two sets with a twenty minute break in the middle before saying goodnight at 11:00. The weekly rehearsals are supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
So if you need a pick-me-up in the middle of the week, or you’re looking for a great way to celebrate Hump Day, just remember Wednesday night is Banjo Night in Pittsburgh.
By Seth Rosenberg.

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