by Christine | Dec 9, 2019 | Welcome Column
Those who know me may be surprised to hear this will be my first coverage of an exclusively instrumental album. I have done reviews of projects from the likes of Bryan Sutton and Michael Cleveland, but they obviously believed their talents were served just as well...
by Christine | Nov 1, 2017 | Welcome Column
One of the very best things about bluegrass is jamming, right? Nothing presents a quintessential picture of a bluegrass festival like folks hanging around in lawn chairs picking in the shade, voices joined in joyous harmony. But for some folks, jamming is stressful....
by Christine | Feb 6, 2019 | Welcome Column
One of the very best things about bluegrass is jamming, right? Nothing presents a quintessential picture of a bluegrass festival like folks hanging around in lawn chairs picking in the shade, voices joined in joyous harmony. But for some folks, jamming is stressful....
by Christine | Jan 5, 2010 | Welcome Column
Your first open jam session is an experience you will never forget. Boy, do I ever remember mine! I’d been practicing my instrument seemingly forever, but I was still very unsure of my abilities. My friend Tony, also a learner, told me about one of the CBA jams he’d...
by Christine | May 7, 2014 | Welcome Column
Saw a notice in the Message Board about someone trying to find a jam in Contra Costa County. As Regional VP for the CBA in that county, I am embarrassed that I don’t know of many regular jams around here. There’s one in Dublin, but that’s actually Alameda County. I...
by Christine | Oct 7, 2013 | Welcome Column
Hey, this is Marty Varner. I switched days with my dad. I wanted to write about the great new James King album. When I saw the lineup on the CD, I was certain it was something special: James King lead vocals, the incredibly diverse and creative Jesse Brock on...
by Christine | May 29, 2016 | Welcome Column
(Editor’s Note: A bittersweet re-post of a then brand new King CD three years ago. RC) Hey, this is Marty Varner. I switched days with my dad. I wanted to write about the great new James King album.When I saw the lineup on the CD, I was certain it...
by Christine | Jun 24, 2014 | Welcome Column
The twice-a-month bluegrass jam in Corte Madera in Marin County be marks its 15-year anniversary today. There will be no streamers, cake or fireworks. I have no doubt that anyone else even knows about this date. But it is with some small satisfaction that I can look...
by Christine | Apr 9, 2015 | Welcome Column
I got in a bluegrass jam the other day at a party. It occurred to me that this was the first casual jam I had been in in many months. In recent years we’ve gone to a few festivals every year and try to make a short appearance at the campouts (spring and fall they...
by Christine | Mar 3, 2016 | Welcome Column
Let’s talk jamming this month again. By doing that I don’t need to stretch my eclectic and esoteric ramblings into something that is pertinent to a welcome column on the CBA Website splash page. Again, trying hard to avoid reader fatigue, I won’t start with my bass...
