www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Cynthia is a modern virtuoso of the 4-string plectrum banjo! She is celebrated not only for her talents in the traditional jazz/plectrum repertoire, but also for her original pieces and creative interpretations of different musical genres from around the world. Her accolades include the 2023 Steve Martin Banjo Prize and an inductee into the American Banjo Hall Of Fame, the first banjoist to win the 2019 Bistro Award and 2018 Global Music Awards, and in 2018 the first 4-string jazz banjoist to be a featured artist at the iconic Newport Jazz Festival.

Cynthia rose to international prominence as a founding member of Woody Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band, and has played with leading jazz, popular, and roots music artists including Bucky Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Andy Statman, Les Paul, Marvin Hamlisch, Wynton Marsalis, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Vince Giordano, The Kingston Trio, Scott Robinson, and many others. 

Sayer has appeared as a guest and performer on CBS, FOX & ABC network television, on NPR's “Piano Jazz,” and elsewhere. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, DownBeat, Fretboard Journal, People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and countless other local, trade, and foreign media outlets.  

Cynthia Sayer is also an avid educator. She has been a guest clinician at The Berklee College Of Music, The New School and others, given multiple educational programs at Lincoln Center, in public schools, and more. She’s on the faculty of the NY Hot Jazz Camp, and gives lessons and workshops. Her play-along program, You're IN The Band is popular with players of all instruments learning and practicing traditional/hot jazz and swing. Her newest book for banjo, guitar and mandolin, The Swinging Solos Of Elmer Snowden, was published in 2022. 

Cynthia lives in New York City and endorses Ome banjos, GHS Strings, Blue Chip Picks, and The Realist Banjo Pickups by David Gage.

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Cynthia on the web:

https://cynthia-sayer.squarespace.com/

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

It's a Freshly Picked episode! This time, we're taking an in-depth look and listen to "Daggomit!" - the new solo project by banjoist Max Wareham. Max is best known as the longtime banjoist for bluegrass legend Peter Rowan, and as the author of the definitive book on Rudy Lyle.

In addition to his sweet banjo skills, "Daggomit!" also showcases Max's arranging, singing, and songwriting. The album also features a top-notch list of supporting musicians, including Chris Eldridge, Chris Henry, Laura Orshaw, Mike Bub, Larry Atamanuik, Peter Rowan, Gabe Hirshfeld, and David Grier. Recorded by Sean Sullivan at the Tractor Shed, and mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Max on the web:

https://www.maxwareham.com/

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Marc Horowitz (aka the "Banjo Whisperer") is a fantastic player in both 3-finger and clawhammer styles: he came up in the  '60's folk scene in NYC, and became an in-demand sideman and session player, playing on commercials, movie soundtracks, and folk and pop music records, and many more. He's a teacher, and lists a guy named Bela Fleck among his former students. He's a setup technician, personally entrusted by Steve Martin to maintain Steve's stable of instruments. Marc now works as a design consultant with Gold Tone Banjos, and helped bring into existence their flagship Bluegrass Heart model.

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Sullivan Banjos, and Bluegrass Country Radio

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

This is a re-mix of an interview from 2018 that was originally released as a 2-part episode. Ryan Cavanaugh is best known for his innovative approach to playing jazz on the 5-string banjo, his tenure with legendary saxophonist Bill Evans’s band Soulgrass, and his genre-defying solo recordings. Through his mastery and creativity, he has truly pushed the boundaries of what is possible on the instrument. He is currently working on solo projects, and touring with Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters.

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Sullivan Banjos, and Bluegrass Country Radio

Ryan on the web:

www.ryancavanaughbanjo.com

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Graham Sharp is a prolific, award-winning banjo player, singer, and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Steep Canyon Rangers, as well as several of his own solo records. One constant of the Rangers' sound through the years is the presence of Graham's expert banjo picking, whether that means hot licks on a fast bluegrass tune, tasteful support of a down-tempo song, or even navigating double banjo performances alongside the band's longtime collaborator Steve Martin.

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Graham on the web:

https://grahamsharp.com/

https://www.steepcanyon.com/

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

It's a Re-mixed episode! The new-and-improved version of this classic interview with the great Mike Munford. Mike is best known for his recordings and performances with Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, as a banjo setup guru, and an afficionado of prewar Gibson flathead banjos. His thrilling style of playing earned him the 2013 IBMA Banjo Player of the year award.

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos.

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Bob Carlin is among the world's top innovators and prolific performers of clawhammer banjo, and is best known for his solo recordings, collaborations with artists such as Bruce Molsky, Cheick Hamala Diabate, John Hartford, Erynn Marshall, and as a longtime member of the legendary Hartford String Band. He also enriches the banjo world through his substantial work as an author, folklorist, and instructor.

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Sullivan Banjos, and Bluegrass Country Radio

Photo by Mac Carbonell

Bob on the web:

http://www.bobcarlinmusic.com/

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

This episode features Tim Ellis, a wonderful bluegrass banjoist best known for his years performing & recording with Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys. He has also worked as a sideman for various other professional groups and recording sessions, and released an album under his own name titled "Banjo Serenade."

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos.

Contact the show: [email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Today we have a follow-up episode to #152, which featured the engineers behind the innovative ToneDexter product, by Audio Sprockets. In this one, host Keith Billik demonstrates what ToneDexter can do, by programming wavemaps using every combination of 3 different banjo pickups (by K&K, Schatten, and EMG) and 5 different microphones (by Rode, Behringer, Shure, Audio Technica, and Mesanovic).

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Sullivan Banjos, and Bluegrass Country Radio

Episode Time Codes:

Intro & explanation of WaveMap Shootout - 03:40

Microphone Base Samples (Not using ToneDexter):

Rode NT5 (Small diaphragm condenser) - 12:27

Behringer ECM8000 (Omnidirectional measurement microphone) - 17:27

Shure SM57 (Dynamic cardioid) - 22:29

Audio Technica AT4047(Large diaphragm Condenser) - 27:05

Mesanovic Model 2 (Figure 8 ribbon) - 31:46

Pickup Base Samples (Not using ToneDexter):

K&K Banjo Twin - 40:38

Schatten BJ-02 - 47:13

EMG ACB Barrel - 53:47

Wavemap Samples

K&K Pickup wavemaps:

• Rode NT5 - 42:18

• Behringer ECM8000 - 43:18

• Shure SM57 - 44:16

• Audio Technica AT4047 - 45:14

• Mesanovic Model 2 - 46:14

Schatten Pickup WaveMaps:

• Rode NT5 - 48:26

• Behringer ECM8000 - 49:29

• Shure SM57 - 50:32

• Audio Technica AT4047 - 51:38

• Mesanovic Model 2 - 52:42

EMG ACB Barrel Pickup WaveMaps:

• Rode NT5 - 55:02

• Behringer ECM8000 - 56:08

• Shure SM57 - 57:16

• Audio Technica AT4047 - 58:22

• Mesanovic Model 2 - 59:30

Conclusion + Keith’s Reaction - 1:00:36

Contact the show: [email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

This Bonus episode is a recording of a "Fireside Chat" session from the 2024 Great Lakes Music Camp, featuring legendary banjoist (and Bluegrass Boy) Bob Black! Bob shares his stories and experiences of his time playing and working for Bill Monroe in the mid-1970's.

Contact the show:

[email protected]

Bob Black on the web:

www.banjoy.com