Foibles, Bon Mots & (Final) Thoughts

Foibles, Bon Mots & (Final) Thoughts

Dear CBA members.      This will be my last column. Many years ago, Rick Cornish asked if I would be willing to be one of the CBA Welcome Column Writers. Rick knew I was a sucker for flattery, and no one could pour it on like Rick.  Rick enthusiastically explained...
In Praise of Long Form Music

In Praise of Long Form Music

Music fans who grew up on radio grew accustomed to a radio format for delivery of popular music. Up to the 1960’s, it was extremely rare for any song to last any longer than 3 minutes and closer to 2 was preferred. It was good for business – let radio get more songs...
I’m Going Back…

I’m Going Back…

In recent years my musical horizons have broadened. At first I put this down to simple nostalgia. Now well into my seventies, I have certainly found myself remembering how –much earlier in my life – I first discovered bluegrass, old time, jazz and blues music. The...
Bass Jokes

Bass Jokes

Banjo players tend to get kidded a lot and jokes about them abound. In the interest of equal time, perhaps it’s time for some other instruments to have some good natured fun poked at them. Here’s a sampling of jokes about those oversize fiddle players we all treasure:...
The Guest Shot  – Do’s and Don’ts

The Guest Shot – Do’s and Don’ts

You’ve seen it a million times at live shows – at some point, someone in the band says “We have a special guest joining us for a few songs” and out comes someone you didn’t expect who gets handed a guitar and plays with the featured band for a time. Sometimes, it’s...
September 11

September 11

Here’s what I wrote ten years ago about what happenened in 2001: December 7th.  September 11.  In our country we remember these two dates as shocking moments of disaster caused by some of our fellow human beings.  Human beings who calculated destruction for those of...