2005 Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA

( Frank Wakefield,  Jim Moss,  James Lewin )

People would call this a power trio configuration. This requires you to have a great and dynamic musician like Frank in the center, then you construct a stripped down band where everyone plays more than one part, in addition to the normal requirements.  In our case Frank would play mandolin parts as well as JD Crowe style banjo parts on his mandolin.  The guitar would use a lot of bass lines to make up for the missing standup bass.  The fiddle would chop to simulate the off beat chuck sound of the banjo when not playing leads. Positioning the fiddle on the same side of Frank, or ear, that guitar was positioned would better sync up the guitar with the fiddle.  It was important to create a single rhythmic pulse that would support Frank's complex timing work. We first tried this when we were in Sweden and had no banjo or bass.  We quickly found this configuration allowed the band to be very fluid. 

After Sweden there was no looking back.  

 

(Notice the great DAT mics)

  Camera-Persons Derric Reed and Carl Chatski 

 

 

Adventures in Bluegrass 9 Video

 

 

 


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