[Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style

[Lowell Busching]

I read with interest the recent post concerning the Pete Seeger banjo 
style for a number of reason. I have not looked for the original posts. 
The return addresses I see on the digest version do not seem right, so I 
will leave it to whom it may concern or interest to pick out yourselves out.

About a week or so ago at our final community concert event we had a 
group called the "Work of the Weavers". I believe they gave their web 
address as simply, http://www.workoftheweavers.com, but you might have 
to do a Google for it. I have misplaced the program.

They were quite good and did a history of the Weavers  show with a lot 
of narrative. Even though two hours long, the amount of music was not 
excessive.  Anyone interested in the Weavers recreation would do well to 
contact them if they have not already been mentioned on the DJML. They 
are from the east coast. New York and Conn. The leader says he is a 
"neighbor" of one of the surviving Weavers and the group has his 
blessing. They sell both their own new music in the Weavers style and 
the original songs.  Mostly the former.

The substitute banjo player for our concert had a good voice for that 
music and played in the Seeger style of course. After the concert we 
talked to him about a number he did that had been done in one of the 
final concerts of the Weavers in C. Hall I believe!  He was also asked 
about the long necked banjo and said the first one was made by actually 
cutting the neck and stretching it! Does anyone know if they were made 
commercially after that or were they always the banjo equivalent of the 
hot rods? Chopped with parts added.

He also mentioned, as the DJML post did, that it was done to make easier 
tuning for use with vocalists, like in the Weavers. It all fits. If you 
are now or were a Weavers fan you might want to look up this group.

The Weavers live.  Just like Bix and his clone groups. I learned a lot 
about the background of the Weavers. I was probably too young at the 
time or lacked the interest then to realize just how politically 
motivated they were and with the unions.  Like many of the folk groups. 
I definitely do remember their music!

Check them out.

Mad Dawg