Champion Fiddler, Inspired Performer
Going Places is a pretty sweet tune. It’s swingy and fun, and just a little bit tricky. I first heard it on one of the Weiser CD’s that John Lardinois recorded. What a great resource those recordings were. I don’t know anything about the tune, but maybe the Internets will enlighten me. Nope, no luck. [...]
Pete’s Waltz was written by Pete Martin. I first heard Pete’s Waltz when Pete Martin played it at Weiser in the early 1990′s, but I didn’t work it out until about 10 years later when one of my fiddle students learned it from Daniel Carwile. Pete’s Waltz is a beautiful tune that is as tough [...]
It’s the last day of Weiser, and I thought that a breakdown would be appropriate as everybody breaks down their tents and campers. What a great week. It was exhausting, and fun. I loved getting to see my old friends, and make new ones. Judging was a kick, although after the day judging the Junior [...]
One of the cool things about going to Weiser is the National Fiddle Contest. And, there is a whole lot more going on in Weiser than just the contest. I really enjoy jamming with the hippies and swing cats in Stickerville, and playing with all of the varieties of fiddling that goes on around the [...]
Today, I’m playing a tune that I wrote a few years back. I clearly remember calling Bill Jones, Ed Carnes, and Matt Wyatt to see if it was a tune that any of them recognized. (It’s not uncommon for fiddlers to write a tune from their subconscious that someone else has already written.) None of [...]
Sally Growler is just plain hard to play. On it’s face, it doesn’t sound that tricky, but it sure feels that way to my fingers, especially the B part. Sally Growler is another hornpipe that I learned during my infamous week at Dale Morris‘ house. That week, he gave me a bunch of hornpipes to [...]
T&T Rag (Also known as T&T Polka) was written by Tony and Terry Ludiker – the A Part by Tony, and the B Part by Terry if I remember correctly. They had just written this tune before I showed up at Tony’s house and of course, I asked Tony to teach it to me. He consented [...]
The first time I heard Topeka Polka was at Weiser, and it was Carol Ann Wheeler playing it. I thought it was dumb, and annoying, and repetitive. At some point, I realized that it was in Bb and I tried to play it, and my perception shifted. It’s really a fun tune to play. So, [...]
