The Buskers Blog

Multi-Instrumentalist: Curse Or Blessing?

Multi-instrumentalism. As many as one in seventeen musicians may be afflicted with this chronic condition.  I am one of them.

I relate to stories of falling in love with an instrument at an early age.  It happened to me.  I was seven.  It was piano. Then a few years later I first heard mandolin and I was thunderstruck; had to be able to make that sound. Then the first time I picked up a fretless bass I couldn’t leave the music store for hours.  It was a case of soul recognition again: “Don’t I know you from somewhere? You look (feel) so familiar...”   Accordion, too.  Just keeps growing on me.  And guitar.  I mean--to go through life without playing guitar? 

 Multi-instrumentalists are not dilettantes.  We are not fickle.  It’s not that we’re dissatisfied with one instrument.  We’re more like polygamists and their harems, to use an unfortunate analogy: “Don’t be jealous; I love all of you; now stop bickering and vying for my attention! Just be patient.  I’ll play you again soon, honey.”  

 Are there any advantages to being a  multi-instrumentalist other than the pleasure of making music on instruments you love to play--i.e. career-wise?  I can only speak for myself.  As a pianist, it helps me to be able to think like a bass player, for example;  and vice versa; and for composing/songwriting, voicings on one instrument can take a fresh new turn when translated onto another.  Gigs?  I do get the occasional call for a recording session with the request, “bring everything,” and am given freedom to suggest and play different instruments—co-producing. I’m a kid in a candy store.   When I record my own material I don’t have to pay a lot of musicians on the session if I’m willing to overdub.  And with The Buskers (my #1 multi-instrumental platform), that’s part of what the band is all about —that big palette of acoustic instruments.  

But let’s face it, there are reasons they don’t encourage this at Juilliard.  You can’t be great at everything. I admire my musician friends who have dedicated their lives to mastery of one (1)  instrument.  On the other hand, it just doesn’t seem like as much fun.  

 

 

Happy New Year from Craig & The Buskers

New England Mandolin Shopping Tour?

Piano was my first instrument (age 7).  Mandolin was my second: 7th grade, an inexpensive  Hans Hauser.   Traveled across the country with it twice, lost it after a gig in Brooklyn in 1984.  I've since been through three Gibson A's (each of which I sold after buckling, cracking, and other signs of Gibson-itis that I couldn't afford to repair),  and I borrowed bandmate Paul's Ibanez for a number of years (thanks, Paul), but it's been a long long time since I owned a mandolin.

Enough! I did a lot of online looking, but you want to play it before you buy it....My friend Jeff, a mandolin enthusiast if ever there was one, recommends: The Music Emporium in Lexington, MA, Maple Leaf Music in Brattleboro, VT and, of course, Mandolin Bros. in Staten Island.  And I'll put in a plug for my local Vintage Fret Shop in Ashland, NH, as well, while we're at it.  

Last weekend I returned triumphant from my first visit to the Music Emporium with the best mandolin of my life, an obscure 1930 Harmony "viol" style (little nubs on each side and f-holes). It was one of maybe 30 mandolins, new and vintage, on the walls.   Nothing I've played before could touch this instrument.  It is a breeze--a pleasure-- to play right up to the 19th fret, and sounds so rich.  I had come to feel that mandolin had its limitations as an instrument.  Now I realize I was wrong. 

It has one problem I didn't catch until I got home: an uneven surface is throwing off the pitch on the 15th fret of the D string. I want them to fix it for me (I think I spent enough), but can't bring myself to take it back to the shop right now--can't let it out of my sight, really.  

I'll be playing it a bit in Dark of the Moon, the latest high school production  I'm directing (and acting in--see below) at Sant Bani School, Sanbornton, NH Dec. 15-17th.   I'll also be playing the beautiful 1976 dulcimer my brother made and gave me for my high school graduation.  

Uncle Smelicue

It's "No Shave November," according to a friend who is also growing out his facial scruff like me.  My reason (this time) is not laziness, though, but because, for the first time in twenty years of directing high school play productions, I have given myself a role in one (other than playing in or directing the pit band).  The show is "Dark Of The Moon," an intense Smoky Mountains drama with music.  It calls for a cast of about 25, and  since Sant Bani School only has some 60 in the high school, I needed to turn to adults for a couple of elder roles. 

I'm Uncle Smelicue; old codger--and musician, of course.   The music is mountain bluegrass and gospel, with in some cases, the lyrics changes slightly by the playwright: tunes like Barbara Allen,  A Picture From Life's Other Side, Walk That Lonesome Valley, and the creepy Little Omie, which I don't recall hearing before, though Doc Watson recorded it, and I used to be a big fan.  That tune is pretty much a solo for me.  It's a pleasure to sing and play that old stuff again, and the cast seems to be getting into it, too. 

"Dark Of The Moon," 7 p.m., December 15,16 & 17 at Sant Bani School, Sanbornton, NH.  for reservations or more information, call the school at (603) 934-4240. 

 

p.s. Here's a link to a beautiful photo essay from this Sunday's Times by photojournalist Shelby Lee Adams of mountain people:   Of Kentucky 

 

51 Main, Middlebury, VT 11/4/11

Jake Whitesell sat in on tenor sax for much of the night; made us think we should always have saxophone in the band.  You wouldn't necessarily think the tenopr and the violin could blend so nicely, but they did. 

A Love Song

All right; I'm gettin' older, and I'm thinking of all the songs I've written, I won't be leaving much behind in the way of plain ole' love songs.  And why not?  Well, they're a minefield of potential clichés, for one thing; a challenge to anyone who's not a fool (or too young to know a cliché yet).   And I've been happily married for a very long time; that's just not as exciting to hear about as the thrilling vertigo of falling in love or a good nasty break-up (minefield #2).  And I don't live in Nashville.  That could be a dealbreaker right there. 

Still,  I'd been feeling like I wanted a new song to honor my honey, and I finished this little thing just in time for our anniversary last week. No, it didn't bowl her over; I never expected it to--she just got embarrassed. Oh, well.  But maybe The Buskers can do something with it just the same. 

 

 

sweet to me

 

you’re sweet to me when you got no cause to be

cause I know you can see right through me

with those big grey eyes so clear and wise

you take the prize for brains as well as beauty

you’re sweet to me and I’m not sure why

but who am I to question your good judgment

as if I couldn’t figure out by now

exactly how you felt about me

even though i know that broken hearts

are a dime a dozen

 

what are you trying to say--

you haven’t said ten times before?

now you put it that way

I’m not exactly sure 

what are you trying to prove?

will someone call the cops

if I climb out the window

and shout it from the rooftop

 

you’re sweet to me, every day with you

there’s always something new

underneath the christmas tree

not the kind of sweet that’s just skin deep

empty calories that rot your teeth

no, i mean something deeper

lying underneath

 

what are you trying to say--

you haven’t said ten times before?

I guess I’ve just said it again 

but let me say it one time more

what are you trying to prove?

until you make me stop

I’m gonna climb out the window

and shout it from the rooftop

 

you’re sweet to me

the sugar in my tea

sweet to me

 

(c) 2011 craig jaster 

 

 

                                              

                                 Maybe next I could have it in rhinestones studded onto my accordion? 

Busking In Concord, NH (Or Not)

So sleepy state capital Concord, NH passed an ordinance this summer allowing unfettered busking. (Bravo!!!)  And my friend Mike Alberici is making the most of it- he's going to give busking a try himself, see how much he makes, then spend the money on dinner (whether it's a hot dog or a five-course meal depends on a few factors, I figure) and write it up in an article for the Concord Monitor.  

And I was invited to join him on Main Street next Wednesday, October 26, 3-5 pm., with my ever-ready perfect (i.e. loud) busking instrument: the accordion.  The irony is that I can't do it because of my day job... (and you call yourself a busker?!)  Maybe Mike will buy dinner at Hermanos, where I'll be playing with my jazz trio a little later in the evening (not busking, but close... if you knew what we make...).

Footnote:  A local busking ordinance advocate took video of The Buskers (with capitals, i.e. the band) playing our signature busking tune "Spank That Tambourine" at a show in Bow, NH with the expressed intention of using it to promote the new busker-friendly downtown.  We haven't heard back yet if she still intends to use it.  But the New England busking season will soon fly south..well, maybe fire breathers can stay, but where nimble digits are needed, we've only got a few more weeks, so let's all get out there and play some Free Bird while we still can!  

Footnote two: The GOP-led state legislature voted this year to allow weapons in the State House and concealed weapons on the House floor and in the visitors’ gallery (state rep. Al Baldasaro said he has been physically threatened multiple times and feels safer carrying a concealed weapon.  no comment). But the City of Concord passes an ordinance allowing musicians to walk the streets?  Chaos.  Anarchy. What were they thinking? 

 

Fallow Fields

We let The Buskers lie fallow since the last harvest of shows in August, while our teaching day jobs came back and devoured Paul and me. But after the the first few weeks of school have chewed us up and spit us out again, we stagger back into my studio for the first of what becomes those weekly sessions where new material gets a first run and over the winter adds another set of tunes to the big bad Buskers catalog. 

In the next couple weeks, though, we'll be pulling tunes from this Summer out of the root cellar (ew, nothing smells like a rotten Mother Hubbard), because we have a show at 51 Main in Middlebury, VT on Nov. 4. It came up fast and we weren't able to get another booking in the area for that weekend, but that turned out great for me, because I've just been invited to play with killer stankin' trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis again at New England College on the 5th. 

So I'm thinking...that's a long drive across the Green Mountains and back for one little gig, and I'm thinking... Middlebury is a nice town... and it's just a few days after my wedding anniversary; so my wife and I are going to make a night of it and stay at a b & b a few blocks away.

Yes, I can get antsy and restless and downhearted when we go too long without Busk(er)ing our own music --thank God for the freelance gigs--but then again, as the Old Farmer knows, every field needs time to lie fallow or it won't keep producing good crops.

For Sale: Moreschi 120 Bass Accordion

An attractive mid-size Moreschi accordion with nice-sounding reeds in full working condition. I just had some work done on it.  Full 120 bass w/ two sets of reeds, 41 key right hand w/ two sets of reeds (L/M) & three settings. At only 16 lbs, it is nice and light, and the case is also in very good condition. Asking $385.  I wish my first accordion had been this nice!