tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post1036510034291226449..comments2024-02-23T08:56:37.934-05:00Comments on Ted Lehmann's Film, Books, Music & Commentary: Guest Blogger: Dustin Ogden of ear-tyme musicTed Lehmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12948477139450253563noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-70573931662350406922012-01-17T03:56:35.359-05:002012-01-17T03:56:35.359-05:00Thanks for this wonderful music.please keep me pos...Thanks for this wonderful music.please keep me posted.thanks and regards.relaxing musichttp://www.freemp3meditationdownloads.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-16080412291171773632011-12-15T23:02:08.058-05:002011-12-15T23:02:08.058-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.wackshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888093359667584696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-72236712666065767612011-03-08T20:18:05.634-05:002011-03-08T20:18:05.634-05:00Jim - I think your point is very well taken. I don...Jim - I think your point is very well taken. I don't much care what people want to play in the field, but I think it's quite important that festivals present a range of material that may be bluegrass derived, but not necessarily pure traditional bluegrass. People wishing to avoid the music deviating from their idea of purity can always return to their rigs and jam anything they wish.Ted Lehmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948477139450253563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-80498707544617012822011-03-08T09:38:11.812-05:002011-03-08T09:38:11.812-05:00I don't get why this topic keeps coming up. Th...I don't get why this topic keeps coming up. The narrow definition of Bluegrass Music is just fine - it gives audiences a clear idea of what to expect. If someone likes Bluegrass, they can seek it out. On the other hand, I can avoid it when I'm in the mood to listen to musicians that are more creative.<br /><br />Another way that the narrow definition of Bluegrass is useful: low-level jamming. For less-skilled musicians, it is helpful to limit the rhythms, chord changes, and song structures to the Bluegrass idiom.<br /><br />Perhaps the discussion should be on festival lineups. The most vibrant and fun festivals are not limited to Bluegrass on stage, even while the amateur, off-stage jams are.JimWingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-88658428172092188252011-03-07T12:14:23.777-05:002011-03-07T12:14:23.777-05:00Thanks for your post, Paul. I'm inclined towar...Thanks for your post, Paul. I'm inclined toward Music festivals that have an eclectic mix of (mostly) acoustic music. I like bluegrass a lot, but a whole day of unrelieved homages to the sounds of Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Jim & Jessie, and Jimmy Martin just makes my eyes glaze over. The range of material you suggest sounds about right to me for a good festival. Thanks again. - TedTed Lehmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948477139450253563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-839626199629403332011-03-07T11:52:04.281-05:002011-03-07T11:52:04.281-05:00This kind of discussion's never ending I guess...This kind of discussion's never ending I guess. It happens all the time about "old time fiddling" as well - and, as mentioned, in Jazz.<br /><br />It really all boils down to a question of how we name things. I like the "Bluegrass" label because when I buy tickets, I've got pretty good idea about what I'm going to hear.<br /><br />That said, I do think musicians ought to play what they like and expand their fan base if they like.<br /><br />I'm a native Southerner, so I like "traditional" Bluegrass and/or "Monroe Style" Bluegrass, but I can certainly understand why other people would want to hear something more "progressive" or "up to date".<br /><br />Back in the 70's the term "New Grass" was used and it worked pretty well for Sam Bush and David Grisman.<br /><br />Even in Jazz, we have different names - DixielLand, Traditional, Bop, Unstructured, etc.<br /><br />The whole problem as I see it is that you can't just run everything under the same name because it confuses and frustrates prospective fans and ticket buyers. So what's wrong with having separate names. Maybe something like.<br /><br />"Traditional Bluegrass" or "Monroe Style Bluegrass", then "New Grass" or "Progressive Bluegrass". I suppose we could even have "HipHop Grass" or some such if we needed to.<br /><br />I don't really care what labels we attach to various styles of playing music on the typical array of acoustic insruments used in traditional Bluegrass.<br /><br />But I don't think we can just call everything Bluegrass because then I don't know whether or not to buy the tickets.<br /><br />--OTJAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07510741202861918380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-82174209865902700762011-03-07T11:51:34.417-05:002011-03-07T11:51:34.417-05:00This kind of discussion's never ending I guess...This kind of discussion's never ending I guess. It happens all the time about "old time fiddling" as well - and, as mentioned, in Jazz.<br /><br />It really all boils down to a question of how we name things. I like the "Bluegrass" label because when I buy tickets, I've got pretty good idea about what I'm going to hear.<br /><br />That said, I do think musicians ought to play what they like and expand their fan base if they like.<br /><br />I'm a native Southerner, so I like "traditional" Bluegrass and/or "Monroe Style" Bluegrass, but I can certainly understand why other people would want to hear something more "progressive" or "up to date".<br /><br />Back in the 70's the term "New Grass" was used and it worked pretty well for Sam Bush and David Grisman.<br /><br />Even in Jazz, we have different names - DixielLand, Traditional, Bop, Unstructured, etc.<br /><br />The whole problem as I see it is that you can't just run everything under the same name because it confuses and frustrates prospective fans and ticket buyers. So what's wrong with having separate names. Maybe something like.<br /><br />"Traditional Bluegrass" or "Monroe Style Bluegrass", then "New Grass" or "Progressive Bluegrass". I suppose we could even have "HipHop Grass" or some such if we needed to.<br /><br />I don't really care what labels we attach to various styles of playing music on the typical array of acoustic insruments used in traditional Bluegrass.<br /><br />But I don't think we can just call everything Bluegrass because then I don't know whether or not to buy the tickets.<br /><br />--OTJAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07510741202861918380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-52033869732024335442011-03-07T11:50:05.200-05:002011-03-07T11:50:05.200-05:00Thanks, Ted and Dustin! I've been talking abo...Thanks, Ted and Dustin! I've been talking about bluegrass and social media (in particular, Twitter) on the resoguit-l google list, but your conversation has inspired me to put that on my blog at: http://geoclark.com/2011/03/07/bluegrass-twitter-and-a-little-bit-of-dobro/ .Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08061369339339977859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-14912082344191820202011-03-06T05:45:43.420-05:002011-03-06T05:45:43.420-05:00My friend Dr. Tom Bibey put in his two cents worth...My friend Dr. Tom Bibey put in his two cents worth on this topic at his blog Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass World (http://drtombibey.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/think-free/) Dr. B has his own unique take on the world, which is worth dipping into on a regular basis. He's also the author of the novel "The Mandolin Case." Here's the first couple of paragraphs of his post: Uncle Ted Lehmann wrote a recent post on social media and bluegrass I enjoyed. Here’s the link to his blog: www.tedlehmann.blogspot.com<br /><br /> It set me to thinking about why I write and why I love bluegrass music and the community that surrounds it. It’s because it gives me hope we can still think free. Perhaps I should say this is a dream or a prayer, but I hold it close with what last few betz cells I have not yet whitewashed by mainstream media pablum.<br /><br /> Don’t believe me? When gifted, honest vocalists have trouble making a living and multimillion dollars news is an awards show singer’s arrival to the gala in a giant egg; a kid whose pitch can’t be saved by ProTools, well, I won’t go on….<br /><br />Go to Dr. B's site to read the rest. - TedTed Lehmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948477139450253563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-57156899610384167812011-03-06T03:56:57.067-05:002011-03-06T03:56:57.067-05:00Changing something is not growing it, it's cha...Changing something is not growing it, it's changing it. Whatever you want to do...do it. Don't try to tell people it's something it's not. If you are running an Apple Stand, clearly marked as APPLE STAND, and then only have peaches on the table...and tell people they are apples...is that growing your business? Does that help the Apple Farmer?Dennis Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-91263016758419019132011-03-05T20:22:02.051-05:002011-03-05T20:22:02.051-05:00My opinion is that if the community only embraces ...My opinion is that if the community only embraces those within the Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Stanley template, then it is the traditional artists themselves that suffer. Whatever you think of the Punch Brothers, for instance, they've had a lot of success commercially and critically. Does that make them better or more relevant? No, but it allows them to keep earning a living and make their music. It exposes audiences to bluegrass forms and bluegrass instruments as well.<br /><br />Again, there's nothing wrong with artists sticking to tradition, but if the community excludes those veering from tradition and traditional bands only play with other traditional bands, they have less opportunity to grow their audience and generate the income needed to continue making their art. I don't think that's good for anyone. Who would argue that Miles Davis' classic album, <i>Kind of Blue</i>, is not jazz despite the fact that it sounds nothing like Jelly Roll Morton or even Louis Armstrong. If all jazz were never to stray past the Armstrong model, it would likely just be a tiny little piece of novel American musical history rather than a vibrant art celebrated the world over. <br /><br />As I see it, you can still honor tradition without excluding innovation. Innovators will find an audience when the talent is there. The question is whether the traditionalists that we all love will have the opportunity for exposure to new audiences that innovators can provide.Dustin Ogdinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03096373389070710473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-36482736731285833402011-03-05T17:29:52.150-05:002011-03-05T17:29:52.150-05:00If the vision is to make big money then the advice...If the vision is to make big money then the advice of the best business schools might be in order. Country Music has certainly shown it works. But isn't it a double edged sword? <br /><br />To me, after following it for the last 40 years, Bluegrass is a well defined art form as laid down by Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs and the other pioneers. It is what it is, just as a sodium atom is what it is, like it or not. <br /><br />Modern jazz and jazz fusion were clearly labeled, perhaps the practitioners of this new stuff might be so kind as telling us what they call it.newtonamichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389757866449683633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-84122201045707634652011-03-05T17:09:30.431-05:002011-03-05T17:09:30.431-05:00Changing something isn't growing it, it's ...Changing something isn't growing it, it's changing it. If you are tired of playing a style of music, then play something else. Don't tell a loyal, clambering for more Bluegrass audience the the music they love is...tired, boring, stale, needs to change and is no longer relevant. You change and stop trying to change the audience. Believe me there are plenty of "Traditional" ticket/CD buyers/listeners out there. Are you ready to abandon them as an audience in hopes of "growing" another? The "Americana" market is flooded with people trying to be all things at one time. It's creating some pretty bland and not too good projects. Someone imitating someone...who's imitating someone, who's imitating someone who actually was the root or was using the root of a style of any music is where a big problem is. Do you think someone who is listening to "The Punch Brothers" and starts a band playing like them grows Bluegrass? How could it? At times it's so far from Bluegrass it's unrecognizable. How about "Old Crow Medicine Show"? I don't think they play a single song with a Bluegrass rhythm and drive. Are they a good representation of the "New" Bluegrass. Music genres are for the most part defined by structure. The rhythm, timing, vocal stacking, instrumentation, "drive"...being able to be creative with those elements inside of a style is what keeps it fresh and alive. I've seen some of the "New", "Change" Bluegrass bands fall by the wayside pretty quick.<br /> If you want to play something different, do it. Don't try to tell people this is "whatever", when you know good and well it isn't.Dennis Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-48783617901708784752011-03-05T16:33:04.162-05:002011-03-05T16:33:04.162-05:00I see these kinds of appeals to "allow bluegr...I see these kinds of appeals to "allow bluegrass to grow" all the time, but as far as I know there is nothing preventing anyone from making any kind of music they want with any innovations they want. <br /><br />I think the real point of these kinds of appeals is to try to get people to change their preferred tastes in music consumption. <br /><br />I was attracted to bluegrass because of the sound and the kind of emotional tie it had to my state of mind. Perhaps that will change in the future, but I have been a fan of many genres of music over the years, and I prefer the traditional bluegrass sound while enjoying many other sounds. <br /><br />If anyone should want to expand the boundaries of bluegrass, fine. Have fun. It may change the world. Just call it something other than "bluegrass" to avoid confusion, and understand that labeling something as "not bluegrass" is not a pejorative, but an identifier on the musical spectrum.Jim Beavernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-28796259429850887192011-03-05T10:55:09.234-05:002011-03-05T10:55:09.234-05:00Ted, it's a real privilege to have my writing ...Ted, it's a real privilege to have my writing re-posting here. Thank you again!<br /><br />Shane, you bring up some great points about both supply and demand and the "values" of many in the bluegrass community. Bluegrass events are often a place where one feels they can bring the entire family with no worry of potentially offensive language or lewd behavior by the artists on stage. As someone who doesn't have kids and admittedly has a high tolerance for profanity and the like, this is something that probably doesn't occur to me enough. You're also correct to point out the split between Earle and Del due in part to Earle's language on stage as I've heard the rumor. Thanks for your comments and insight. Well said.Dustin Ogdinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03096373389070710473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-29114384215190351462011-03-05T10:20:19.706-05:002011-03-05T10:20:19.706-05:00Thanks much, Shayne. I thought long and hard tryin...Thanks much, Shayne. I thought long and hard trying to decide whether to take the Gangstagrass clip off, leave it without comment, or post the warning. I decided on the warning, because I think Dustin effectively demonstrated the limits to which some people can take "bluegrass" sounds. I hear lots of music at festivals that's either not to my taste and some that's just plain unacceptable to me, perhaps for reasons different from what others might choose. No matter. I can always be sure that something I really like will be coming soon.<br /><br />Any chance you'll be in Conway on March 19 for the RBS concert?Ted Lehmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948477139450253563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7211910878271447535.post-17208427568292296062011-03-05T09:57:48.770-05:002011-03-05T09:57:48.770-05:00Ted - thanks for exposing us to Dustin’s blog. He...Ted - thanks for exposing us to Dustin’s blog. He is thoughtful and articulate, like you. Clearly this is not a new topic you’re tackling here; I see and hear it all of the time. I commented on one of your earlier posts about the economics of bluegrass. I really believe supply and demand drives it, but I rarely hear any mention of this reality in the discussion.<br /><br />We can fuss at the musicians and festival promoters all day long, but in the end, the customers have the biggest say so. How many albums will Gangstagrass sell? If Dennis Jones played some Ganstagrass on WNCW’s “Going Across The Mountain,” how would his listeners (i.e. Supporters and financial donors) react? On the topic of Del McCoury and Steve Earle, there is no mention of their parting ways. Word on the street is that Del didn’t appreciate some of Earle’s onstage shenanigans. On some level, this ties back to the economic impact - Del was concerned about disappointing his best customers, the family audience. <br /><br />Offline, you and I discussed this tagline that I had used for my music - “Acoustic, Bluegrassy Music.” Initially, I was excited about the line because it indicated that I have bluegrass influence, but gave me wiggle room to go beyond the defined boundaries. Along the way, I’ve found approval from some pretty staunch traditionalist, but that tagline alone nearly squashed my chance of getting their attention to begin with. <br /><br />Some of the music I hear sounds like an artist being different just for the sake of being different. Others sound different because their creative energy has taken them there. How can you tell? Well, who cares, really? If you listen to the music, and you like - then buy it and tell all of your friends to check it out. I listen to Dennis Jones each week, support WNCW, and tell all of my friends about it because I love the music they play. I’ve purchased a dozen CDs from Nora Jane Struthers and passed them out to friends because I love her music. You can call it Bluegrass or Americana or whatever you want - it’s great music, and there is demand for it.Shayne Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15101596733982052782noreply@blogger.com