General News

Here’s an interesting story from the New York Times this morning.

Warren Hellman, a Wall Street investor who was president of Lehman Brothers and whose passion for bluegrass inspired him to create a San Francisco music festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people a year, died on Sunday in San Francisco. He was 77. Hellman passed away on December 18, 2011 of complications from his treatment for leukemia.

Hellman was the primary sponsor and provided funding for the Bluegrass Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

Read the full article in the New York Times.

Another article from San Francisco’s Bay Area News .

Howard Miller of Ausgrass fame has alerted us to the following opportunity.

Department of State’s American Music Abroad Initiative Now Accepting Applications

Using music as a means to engage audiences worldwide, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that the American Music Abroad program is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 season.  Musicians interested in applying for this international exchange program, which consists of month-long, multi-country tours for approximately 10 ensembles from a variety of American musical genres, may apply at www.americanvoices.org/ama.

American Music Abroad ensembles will be selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to educational and cultural engagement.    To represent the full spectrum of the American musical landscape, musical ensembles from across the United States that specialize in Hip Hop, Rock & Roll, Jazz, Country, and other American roots music including but not limited to Native American, Latin, Afro-Caribbean, Blues, Bluegrass, Cajun, Gospel and Zydeco are invited to apply for this international exchange program.

The deadline for applicants is January 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. PST.

American Music Abroad builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power” diplomacy, which embraces the full range of diplomatic tools – in this case, music – to bring people together and foster greater understanding.

The Department of State, in partnership with the Association of American Voices, will craft an international exchange that will engage selected American ensembles with international audiences, especially underserved youth.  Through public concerts, interactive performances with local musicians, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and jam sessions, the American Music Abroad initiative reaches audiences in nearly 40 countries with little or no access to live American musical performances.

For more information about American Music Abroad and other international cultural exchanges, please visit www.exchanges.state.gov.

Check out what musicians from previous American Music Abroad tours have to say:

Rockin’ Acoustic Circus announces they’re opening a shop in Nashville with some new faces and they are now open for business. With hearts in traditional music and heads in the 21st century, this progressive acoustic group is pointing toward an exciting direction for music. Sharing their passion with impressive musical prowess and boundary pushing style, they strongly anticipate the appeal to an even wider audience, presenting a new vibe of original work, and enjoying a rare friendship and musical bond identified in this unique chemistry of people.

The band started as Oklahoma teens, beginning with a childhood connection between two members, Sterling Abernathy and Eric Dysart, who shared the same music teacher. The pairing of mandolin guru, Abernathy with the skills of fiddle champ, Dysart, was the nucleus of the original ensemble. Abernathy, now 18 and youngest in the band, is a superior mandolinist offering eye-raising leads, solid rhythm, and some of the most tasteful fills the instrument is capable of producing. Dysart, 19 with vocal capability beyond his years, and equally adept on fiddle – possesses a much envied technical skill, having studied both classical violin and old-time fiddle. With a recent move from Oklahoma, Abernathy and Dysart are joining their new family – and calling Nashville home.

Bringing the low down in the bass department, Adam Chaffins, originally from Louisa, KY – holds a music degree from Morehead State University and is a well-respected artist within the Nashville neighborhood. With commanding vocals and credible writing skill, he is a great asset to the RAC style. He’s recorded and played with several well-known artists, including Southern Ground (the Zac Brown owned label) recording artist – Levi Lowrey.
With their former guitar player retiring – Rick Morton (AKA: old guy, friend, & teacher to Abernathy/Dysart), – the multi-talented Dillon Hodges adds to the mix with instantly recognizable vocals and superior songwriting skills – also equally masterful on both guitar and claw hammer banjo. Hodges – 21, has already won three national guitar titles including the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship in Winfield, KS. He’s toured with Missy Raines and written and recorded with Tim May. Last in this parade of superior musicians, but certainly not least is the charming, five-string fiddler extraordinaire, Rachel Baiman. Baiman, now a senior at Vanderbilt University, grew up on old-time and bluegrass music.  Making a heavy mark on the Midwest contest scene, she won the Illinois State Fiddle Championship at 16 and brings her strong instrumental abilities, along with compelling vocals and sweet harmony to the ‘Circus’ big top.

Fiddle legend Byron Berline maintains the thing that impresses him most about the group is they strive for originality – “they aren’t copycats; they step out and do music their own way.” In 2012, the band anticipates “their own way” will look like the release of a new album complete with an impressive repertoire of compelling originals, dynamic arrangements and a sound all its own. Their music influenced by the likes of old-time, folk, and chamber inspired bluegrass – makes for an incredible listening experience.

With an upcoming Nashville appearance at Music City Roots, on Dec 7th, the band will present their new look and future sound – live from the Loveless Barn. The performance will also be available for viewing by LiveStream from the MCR website – 7:00 PM/CST. Join them live or by web to check out what the “buzz” is all about.

For more information:

Website: www.RockinAcousticCircus.com. E-mail: Mike@ClassActEntertainment.com
Join their 4,000+ Facebook fans:
www.Facebook.com/RockinAcousticCircus.

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When Steve Martin was recently interviewed on ‘The Late Show’,  David Letterman asked Martin if he played any other instruments besides the banjo? Somewhat puzzled, Martin asked Letterman if he would ask Yo-Yo Ma whether he played anything other than the cello?

Yo-Yo Ma is no doubt one of the world’s leading classical cellists, however, his latest project – The Goat Rodeo Sessions – sees him venture into the land of bluegrass. This project has seen Yo-Yo Ma invest some 12 months or more recording with bluegrass identities such as Stuart Duncan, Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer. The album features 11 original compositions and is due out 24th October 2011.

This is not the first foray into bluegrass for Yo-Yo Ma who collaborated with Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor back in 1996 on an album called Appalachia Waltz and again in 2000 with Appalachian Journey.

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age four and soon came with his family to New York, where he spent most of his formative years. Later, his principal teacher was Leonard Rose at The Juilliard School. He sought out a traditional liberal arts education to expand upon his conservatory training, graduating from Harvard University in 1976.