I gather, from the comments, that Mr. Ervin is playing something called Bones. They are awesome. That must be a dying art. I hope he taught someone else how to play those before he passed. What an honor it must have been to play with him. Toward the end of the song, the 2 musicians just look at each other, they know what they mean, and know what's coming next. Love that.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
This is a vivid depiction of WHY BLACK BANJO PLAYERS DO NOT PLAY LIKE THE GUY PLAYING BANJO ALONG WITH THE LATE CLIF IRVIN. tHE PLAYER HAS A different notion of the music than clif and other African american music where his job as a banjoist is to fill up all the space with a pretty straight unsyncopated melody with lots of brushing but Black banjoists, listen to Dink Roberts or Rufus A Kasey dont play like this
Maybe the reason I don't sound like a black banjo player from North Carolina is that I'm a white, city dwelling, Canadian. I just met Clif at camp we were both teaching at and asked him to join me on stage...his son really likes the clip.
but, to all the black banjo players of the world (that you apparently speak for)...I apologize for my playing and I'm sorry that they don't like me...I'll try harder in the future
Maybe the reason I don't sound like a black banjo player from North Carolina is that I'm a white, city dwelling, Canadian. I just met Clif at camp we were both teaching at and asked him to join me on stage...his son really likes the clip.
but, to all the black banjo players of the world (that you apparently speak for)...I apologize for my playing and I'm sorry that they don't like me...I'll try harder in the future
@writerrad I've heard both white and black banjo players play in lots of different ways. If you're playing solo it can also be different than when you're accompanying a fiddle player; in that case you'd tend to play a lot more syncopated, strong beats and off beats while the fiddle played more "on" the beat, which isn't to say that a fiddle player can't syncopate too. Even if he's white. ;) (Though I don't see anyone here claiming to be representing a black banjo tradition here.)
Love it!! Those bones and that banjo sounds awesome together!!
muddybanjo 2 months ago
I gather, from the comments, that Mr. Ervin is playing something called Bones. They are awesome. That must be a dying art. I hope he taught someone else how to play those before he passed. What an honor it must have been to play with him. Toward the end of the song, the 2 musicians just look at each other, they know what they mean, and know what's coming next. Love that.
rodemay 9 months ago
@rodemay Actually the good news is that there are still plenty of people playing bones! Check out rhythmbones (dotcom) and you can find lots of into.
sazji 1 month ago
You got to play with Clif, you lucky bastard
PipeIncognito 9 months ago
You both sound great and have such great rhythm/meter.
Mandotwang 9 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is a vivid depiction of WHY BLACK BANJO PLAYERS DO NOT PLAY LIKE THE GUY PLAYING BANJO ALONG WITH THE LATE CLIF IRVIN. tHE PLAYER HAS A different notion of the music than clif and other African american music where his job as a banjoist is to fill up all the space with a pretty straight unsyncopated melody with lots of brushing but Black banjoists, listen to Dink Roberts or Rufus A Kasey dont play like this
writerrad 10 months ago
@writerrad
...uhmm...I'm sorry?
Maybe the reason I don't sound like a black banjo player from North Carolina is that I'm a white, city dwelling, Canadian. I just met Clif at camp we were both teaching at and asked him to join me on stage...his son really likes the clip.
but, to all the black banjo players of the world (that you apparently speak for)...I apologize for my playing and I'm sorry that they don't like me...I'll try harder in the future
Chris
chriscoole 10 months ago 11
@chriscoole awesome reply ROFL
comradeshow 9 months ago
@writerrad
...uhmm...I'm sorry?
Maybe the reason I don't sound like a black banjo player from North Carolina is that I'm a white, city dwelling, Canadian. I just met Clif at camp we were both teaching at and asked him to join me on stage...his son really likes the clip.
but, to all the black banjo players of the world (that you apparently speak for)...I apologize for my playing and I'm sorry that they don't like me...I'll try harder in the future
Chris
chriscoole 10 months ago
@chriscoole You forgot to shout "BOOM!!" at the end of that fine rebuttal ;)
charliedelta1000 10 months ago
@writerrad I've heard both white and black banjo players play in lots of different ways. If you're playing solo it can also be different than when you're accompanying a fiddle player; in that case you'd tend to play a lot more syncopated, strong beats and off beats while the fiddle played more "on" the beat, which isn't to say that a fiddle player can't syncopate too. Even if he's white. ;) (Though I don't see anyone here claiming to be representing a black banjo tradition here.)
sazji 1 week ago
clawhammer?
bastardchildofmary 10 months ago
good job on this!
catinnahat 11 months ago
nice
83hickey 1 year ago
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9 seconds ago
Brilliant!
Love the syncopated pings around that strummed chord and that last wee flick of the thumb towards the end puts a big smile on my face.
thanx
astrochicken 1 year ago
Comment removed
astrochicken 1 year ago
that was beautiful - the amplification makes the banjo sound amazing
contrapparatus 1 year ago
Absolutely fantastic! Thank you!
angelofbebop 1 year ago
Excellent Boys, 5***** John.
amibovverred 1 year ago
hey chris ~
would you mind sharing the tuning you're in here?
thanks! :)
lorinitzel 1 year ago
@lorinitze
just regular old double C (GCGCD) but maybe tuned a bit below standard pitch
chriscoole 1 year ago
@chriscoole
thanks, chris! your 4th string is soooo loooowww :-)
lorinitzel 1 year ago
I love this!
fork1964 1 year ago
Great
rockvideofreak 1 year ago
Man you sound great. What kind of banjo is that?
LostintheHoller 2 years ago
@LostintheHoller
Thanks...It's a disco era vega tubaphone...
chriscoole 1 year ago
Superb !
psychkoala 2 years ago
nice playing!
jtallen12345 2 years ago
thank you for posting! I play BONES and BANJO too and am lookin for ways to present old timey.....
Chris Your great!
plucknpick 2 years ago
This is cool! This is Chris Coole! Clif can shake really those bones! This good, me like.
harare40 2 years ago 2
this is so cool - glad you posted this, Chris!
jasonpauljohnston 3 years ago
I thought I could play bones...and now I've heard this guy. RIP Clif... Nice one!
gregoryburrows 3 years ago 2
2-0-5
Zachmister 3 years ago 2
NICE!!!
lethbptl 3 years ago
Beautiful!
comment99 3 years ago