Banjo Chat

In this episode, we dive into the making of Wes Corbett’s new album Drift. The inspirations behind the music, the collaborators who brought it to life, and insights into the recording process. We listen to a couple of my favorite tracks from the album! We chat about musical influences like Car Talk, Earl Scruggs, and Béla Fleck, and reflect on his upbringing on the West Coast. He shares the subtle complexities of performing with the Sam Bush Band and offers a thoughtful look at his approach to the banjo and composition. And of course, we settle the age-old debate: how do you pronounce “salmon”? (I have my own theories.) Plus, we test his knowledge on the life cycle of salmon—you might be surprised by what he knows. www.wescorbett.bandcamp.com www.wescorbett.com www.hilaryhawkemusic.com

This is the Season Finale! And my mind is blown hearing Alison Brown talk about her banjos and what she’s playing on the road. We chat about her music, making records, producing, re-issuing records and the vision for her band. We nerd out about how we like the piano and banjo combo. What she likes to convey with her music, and how she goes beyond how the banjo is usually portrayed. We listen to her track Sweet Sixteenths with Sierra Hull on mandolin, and the Alison Brown Quartet. We talk about Compass records and why it started and she gives advice for getting over your nerves. “The banjo is a conduit for connecting with other people” https://www.alisonbrown.com https://alisonbrown.bandcamp.com/album/on-banjo patreon.com/banjochat https://www.etsy.com/shop/Pickenchickenbooks for Kustom Koozies

This week on banjo chat! As we prepare for the final two episodes in this season we take a moment to get into some more Listener emails! And these ones are doozies. Thanks everyone and we return next week with our next guest! https://www.patreon.com/BanjoChat

This week we have Kyle Tuttle on the banjo chat! Of course we talk about winning the grammy award with Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway for their City of Gold album! Yessir! We are also talking about banjo necks, banjo makers and what life is like in Nashville as a banjo player. How he loves the music festival scene, playing music and being true to yourself, and different recording techniques on his new album. We talk about how he approaches improvisation and how you can put yourself into new situations (jamming and playing music) without letting your ego get in the way. “The truer you are to yourself, is always going to be more beneficial to what your goals are” http://kyletuttle.com https://www.patreon.com/BanjoChat

This week’s episode is with Kristin Scott Benson! It was a great chat with Kristin, all things banjo and beyond. Listening to her solos and talking about who inspired her to play and special guest barks from Fisher the dog. Talking about different personalities and how we handle the business side of music, performing and teaching. Band dynamics and what it’s like being a side person, and being grateful for the different roles in a band. Having stage fright, and struggling with nerves. Being in a band with all guys. Strategies for nerves, for the right hand, and for getting a groove. How to stay centered and focused when playing “What never gets old is the communal spirit of a band when the groove and drive are right” https://www.ksbbanjo.com https://kristinscottbenson.bandcamp.com https://www.patreon.com/banjochat

This week’s episode is with Aaron Jonah Lewis and how music and the world as we know it, are changing! We talk about making music in Detroit, and being a traveling musician. Thinking about the bigger picture, building community, finding the people who help you in your life. What it’s like making vinyl records again. Their Dos Senoritas album. Connecting to yourself and the people around you. Connecting to history, how banjo influenced ragtime music and how they've been using different arrangements and orchestration in ragtime banjo music. Some great perspective on how to support arts and music, and how their Banjo Dojo group music classes are harkening back to a more authentic way of learning music. “When you are playing a banjo, you are connected to something really deep”. https://www.aaronjonahlewis.com https://www.ragtimebanjo.com https://www.cornpotato.com banjodojo.substack.com Check out our new Patreon page for Banjo Chat! patreon.com/banjochat

Season 2 kicks off with a bang! We have Lisa Leblanc! Coming straight from her recent Symphony tours of her original music in Canada. Her big picture on connection with the audience, and how to have fun onstage. How she has developed her style of banjo playing, and getting to jump around and wail on the banjo. The amazing connection between Acadian, Cajun, songwriting and Chiac music and how she has blended them with folk, bluegrass and rock elements to create an ever evolving sound! Truly an inspiring chat and was psyched to have Lisa on the show! “As soon as you’re comfortable everyone knows it, as soon as you’re uncomfortable, everyone knows it even more”- Lisa Leblanc about stage performing. https://www.lisaleblanc.ca https://lisaleblanc.bandcamp.com

This week’s episode is with Cynthia Sayer! We talk about what it is like being a full-time professional banjoist in the jazz world. What made her want to learn swing banjo? How she was touring for 20 years before ever working with another woman in jazz. Being in Woody Allen’s jazz band for 10 years and working with him. We listen to two of her albums; Cynthia Sayer Vol 1., and Joyride. What it takes to make a career in music, staying open to following your heart and having good people around you. https://cynthiasayer.com https://cynthiasayer.bandcamp.com/ banjochatpodcast@gmail.com

This episode is with Cristina Vane! She talks about how she got into clawhammer banjo, the bluegrass and old-time scenes in Nashville, Los Angeles, and NYC and what it’s like moving closer to the source of blues, and old-time. How music has been a constant in her life, and honing her voice in the music she makes and honoring all the things that make her musical identity. We hear her story growing up in Italy and traveling to the United States. Geeking out about the late blues artist, Chris Whitley and his album, Dirt Floor. Advice about identity as a musician, and great advice for how to keep good priorities and feel satisfied in your life. “Don’t quit don’t quit”! Listen to two tracks from her newest album, Make Myself Me Again. WEBSITE https://www.cristinavane.com/ https://cristinavane.bandcamp.com/ Banjo Chat Logo www.wearablechaos.com Follow us on instagram @banjochat

Hubby talks about how he got into music, how he practices in small spaces, his influences in early folk, old-time, influences from other people besides banjoists (comedians, other types of musicians). Naming our banjos. He dives deep into some music from Black Banjo Songsters and we listen to the Rufus Casey version of the Cuckoo song. What it was like for him learning that the banjo started as a black instrument and how it re-shaped history. His live shows and what it was like playing his first festival as a touring musician. Being in the Carolina Chocolate Drops. The perception of the banjo from all different types of audiences. Hubby asks what it’s like for me being a woman playing the banjo. We chat about the hustle in NYC. He talks about not letting history get into the way, but also being aware of the songs you’re playing and being respectable and knowledgable. Hubby shares his must-know songs for the banjo world. https://www.hubbyjenkins.com/ https://hubbyjenkins.bandcamp.com/ “I never feel more grounded and more centered than when I’m lost in playing” -Hubby Jenkins

On this episode I chat with banjoist, Kaia Kater! Talking about gear and her music on the last two albums she put out; Grenades and Nine Pine. The pressures of being a musician, and different recording techniques. How to write for the banjo. How she started banjo and traveling back and forth from Canada to the U.S. Love/hate relationships with different tunings. Talking about her dream banjo. Her Grenades album/social change, and her dad’s experience as a refugee from Grenada. Throwing off the shawl of traditional banjo playing. And a little bit about the upcoming album. WEBSITE: https://www.kaiakater.com/ Songs on the Podcast From album Grenades: Canyon Land https://kaiakater.bandcamp.com/track/canyonland From album Nine Pin: Paradise Fell https://kaiakater.com/track/1023267/paradise-fell

Maggie talks to Hilary about where she learned to play and why she chose banjo. She tells us about her life and touring with Spirit Family Reunion. We listen through her newest album, The Dark Was Aglow and talk about how to get inspired, being a musician and a mom! https://www.maggiecarsonmusic.com/ https://maggiecarson.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-was-aglow This episode mixed by Hilary Hawke and mastered by Claude Aldous. Logo design by Sierra Mack