Adam Hurt gourd banjo "John Riley the Shepherd"

Adam Hurt's new solo gourd banjo CD "Earth Tones" is now available on CD Baby. You can sample tracks and purchase it by going to http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/adamhurt3

Adam Hurt's music makes me think of how a classical lutenist might approach traditional old-time American mountain music on a 5-string banjo. The technical skill, feeling and creativity, which Adam applies to his music, easily put him in the upper tier of clawhammer banjo players.

In this video, Adam plays "John Riley the Shepherd" on a beautiful gourd banjo sent from Arkansas to Colorado by its maker, David Hyatt, to be part of a solo concert I produced for Adam in Pagosa Springs, Colorado in April 2009. The remarkable sounds of the gourd banjo, and its historical significance, added an exciting dimension to this concert.

"John Riley the Shepherd" is one of the tunes on Adam's solo gourd banjo album, a project I'm proud to have helped him produce. The CD, entitled "Earth Tones" is available for previewing and purchasing at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/adamhurt3

If you want to find out more about Adam Hurt check out my website where I have nice section devoted to this innovative and inspiring virtuoso clawhammer banjo player.

http://www.banjocrazy.com/adamhurt.shtml

Paul Roberts
http://www.banjocrazy.com/

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  Music

[Bob Minner]

My favorite claw hammer player...

[Gabriel Kyne]

tuning is sawmill with the drone string tuned down a whole step

[Robin Fernández-Medina]

wonderful music !! Mr. Metronome..

[QRS666]

There are clawhammer players: Bad, decent and average, the good and the pros...and then there is Adam Hurt who is pure genious. He is so relaxed and plays everything effortlessly, every tone clean as a whistle. He really is the king of clawhammer banjo IMHO.

[Kenneth William Elkington]

Got the CD... inspirational... Adam has a wonderful musical presence... impeccable style and technique.

[Rowan Llew]

Very fine playing and what a tone that instrument has - beautiful! I wonder what tuning this is in? Doesn't sound like Sawmill, 4th string sounds quite low,

[deathslice60]

That was beautiful! Also i haven't seen such a bass before it seems to have one big one as the body and a small one can someone explain?

[PHJimY]

Is the small head at the bass of the fingerboard just for decoration? I see that you have one mic pointed at the small head. Wouldn't it be louder if there was no membrane on it?

Super playing! I'll be back to listen to this again.

[nancejo]

I really like the look of the bottle-necked gourd. Clever. 

[evankerry]

melodic mush