You know about it, or you should know about it, if you are a bonified (or if you prefer, bona fide), dyed in the wool blue-grasser. The “it” in this case is the well known monthly magazine regarding all things bluegrass, titled, “Bluegrass Unlimited,” which has been in print since 1966. While perusing the December 2015 issue, the following impressions held me captive until the old year turned into 2016.
There he is, Doyle, dressed in his “Nudie Suit” (think Porter Wagoner’s outfit), standing in front of his five, much younger band members. They, including Doyle, are all smiling. Doyle is smiling because everyone knows his name, and because he is famous in the bluegrass world. His band members are smiling because they are much younger.
There he is, Stan the man, smiling and holding a much coveted guitar. Stan owns hundreds of guitars, mandolins, fiddles, banjos, and other instruments. Stan was once young, but now he is Elderly. And that is the reason he is smiling.
There she is, Rhonda, dressed like a queen. Because she is the queen. She is holding her latest mandolin, and she is smiling. Rhonda knows where she has been, and she knows where she is going. She has been to Grass Valley, and that is where she is going again. She knows when, and some of us do too.
There they are, the five of them, Nothin’ Fancy really, yet at the same time they are, at least when it comes to the Grass that is blue. They know where they are going, but most of us don’t. At least not yet.
There they are, the two of them, both smiling. They are brothers in life, and brothers in bluegrass; enigmatically becoming three Gibsons and one Martin in their photo. These Gibsons also know where they are going, and that the grass in the Valley may not be greener, but it is definitely bluer during the month of June.
There they are, two of them, break-aways from the known into the unknown. One on a Daily basis, the other another’s brother, Vincent, who is moving out of the shadow of the queen.
The Highway is blue, bluer than before, because Rob and his dobro are taking highway less traveled.
The Moron Brothers aren’t really. They must be smart to be booked into major bluegrass festivals all over the USA.
The Larry Gillis band lives! The Plymouth Bluegrass Festival in the sierra foothills doesn’t.
The Dry Branch Squad is still on fire. The Lonesome River Band doesn’t swim or fish. The 26th annual IBMA winner for the Festival/Event/Venue Award went to the ISIS Restaurant/Performing Center in Ashville, North Carolina = Time for a name change?
IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year for 2015 went to “The Earls of Leicester” (pronounced “Lester”). If Lester and Earl came back today and started a new band together, would they call themselves, “The Earl of Lester,” or “The Lester of Earl,” or “The Lazarus of Bluegrass?”
Jesse McReynolds, the 86 year old mandolin player, is not old. It doesn’t matter what the numbers show, the numbers are wrong. “We don’t stop doing things because we are old, we are old because we stop doing things.” Jesse has 68 years of playing bluegrass music under his belt, and he has 68 years to go.
The December 2015 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine’s article, “IBMA World of Bluegrass Week 2015,” sang the praises of the CBA’s Hospitality Suite regarding hosting a fantastic series of concerts every night. That settles it. The CBA suite was sweet!
Today the “Great 48” mega-jam is happening in Bakersfield, California. If you are there right now it is a time to pick until you are ready to drop, and not a time to read this CBA Welcome Column. But if you are not there, then here ya go….
