Jody Kruskal

Squeezer? Boxman? Bellows Pumper?

Thanks for the tip Tealeaf. OK, so how about using stacked bar lines like this. Do you think it is clearer or just redundant. Of course, this sort of shorthand tab can be drawn by hand, perhaps to better effect. | C | | F | C | | __ | __ | ______ _ _ | __ | | 2 2 1 . | 2 2 1 . | 7 7 77 87 | 7 6 6 . | | 3 4a 3 | 3 4a 3 | 1a 4 1a 4 | 4 4 4 | | F C | G C | G | C | | _______ | _ __ | _________ _ | __ | | 7 . 6 . | 32 2 2 . | 2 2 22 32 | 2 1 1 . | | 1a 4 3 5 | 1 4a 3 5 | 1 4a 1 4a | 4 4 4 |

I have skype students all over the globe. Teaching Anglo concertina has in turn taught me many insights into my own playing. One useful tool in my lessons has been Gary Coover's Anglo Tablature, but it’s time consuming to make those scores. Here is a streamlined ASCII TAB version that can be emailed as text. It has been working well with some of my students. For instance, today's lesson with my student P.D.Q. He lives about 400 miles away and is an experienced beginner. P.D.Q. wants help playing Galway Girl with his Clancy Brothers tribute band. He just wants to play the instrumental break and when I asked him to sing it to me he was willing and able. So, in cases like this where the melody is well known, my streamlined ASCII TAB notation really shines. This example features four lines in a fixed space font. The top line are the chords. Next line are the bellows direction indications. No line above means push and a line above means draw. Next line down are the right hand button numbers in the 1-5, 6-10 system. The bottom line are the left hand button #s (the "a" buttons here are in the accidental far row). The dots are rhythmic place holders. In this example they all change the previous note from a 1/4 to a 1/2. Galway Girl - Instrumental Break (C/G Anglo arr. Jody Kruskal) C F C __ __ ______ _ _ __ | 2 2 1 . | 2 2 1 . | 7 7 77 87 | 7 6 6 . | 3 4a 3 3 4a 3 1a 4 1a 4 4 4 4 F C G C G C _______ _ __ _________ _ __ | 7 . 6 . | 32 2 2 . | 2 2 22 32 | 2 1 1 . | 1a 4 3 5 1 4a 3 5 1 4a 1 4a 4 4 4 I’ve included a picture of the tab for reference, but above is the text, all in a jumble because C.Net will not let me specify the font displayed. To make it look right, copy and paste The text into a word processing page. Reformat the text into courier font at 9 points and voila!... all the features line up, just like in the picture below. This kind of tab is quick to make and easy to read with just enough information to be really useful. If only I could make the bar lines bigger/longer without messing up the spacing. Anyone know how to do that?

Well, I’m glad that “What is folk music today? UK and USA” has sparked the sort of lively and convivial discussion I’ve come to expect from C.Net. In contrast, imagine what an uproar this topic would have created on Mudcat Cafe? Good on us. If you want details and have a few hours to spare, just go to Folk Music Wikipedia for a highly inclusive and nuanced assessment.

This years tour is coming right up. Here is my corrected schedule. Note: The May 11 Wolf Cabaret address was previously listed incorrectly. If you get to any of these venues, please introduce yourself to me as a C.Net acquaintance. Jody’s 2019 UK tour itinerary May 11 The Wolf Cabaret Flitcham Social Club, King’s Lynn, Norfolk May 12 The Bulls Head Folk Club Warrington, Cheshire http://www.folkimages.com/Bullshead/index.htm May 17-19 Swaledale Squeeze Yorkshire http://swaledalesqueeze.org.uk/ May 21 Ringwood Folk Club Burley, Hampshire http://www.ringwoodfolk.org.uk/ May 24-27 Chippenham Festival Wiltshire https://www.chippfolk.co.uk/ June 1-3 Fire In the Mountain Festival Aberystwyth, Wales http://www.fireinthemountain.co.uk/event-info In addition to my guest invitations I’m planning to drop in on these clubs for showcases and floor spots: Runcorn Folk Club, Black Swan in York, Mansfield Folk Club, Grand Union in Loughborough, Llantrisant Folk Club and The Conwy Folk Club in Wales. If you are curious about my music there is a nice sample here, http://jodykruskal.com/solo_concerts.html

I was about to post something along the lines of... "Is Folk Music Dead?" Then I stopped myself short and reflected... perhaps a broader question would be more revealing... Yes? "Folk Music" certainly appears dead here in the USA from my perspective living in New York City. The UK seems to have a much livelier "folk" scene. Why are you guys so lucky? On my yearly visits to the UK, I've heard it said for years, that the UK scene is not in the state of its former glory, right? Heard that myth too? From my USA perspective... England looks pretty "folk robust" to me, with hundreds of players clubs scattered all about within a few miles of each other. That is nothing even close to the way it is here in the states. Here we have only slim reigional/urban pockets of traditional song/tune/dance activity. On the other hand... there's the US Old-time instrumental tune revival that is roaring along these days, and spreading to the UK this past 10 or 15 years or so. The growth of playing Southern Old-Time US fiddle tunes as a casual pastime at gatherings, bars and festivals allover seems to reflect a widening interest in preserving, remembering and playing old obscure tunes (and a few songs) on a casual session level. Here at the local sessions at my bar, It's downright scholarly conversation among the players at these woke sessions as we discuss the origins of the tunes we play in detail... who, when, from whom...and then we bust down for the stuff.

I just got home from NEFFA 2019 in Mansfield MA, USA. What a full weekend! Lots of concertinas in abundance where ever you looked. My all-systems workshop with over a dozen squeezers was a success as was my concert of concertina chorus songs. Such fun! I like this festival because it mixes all the performance elements I love, singing, instrumental playing and dancing in a variety of formats and styles from the formal concert, called dance or workshop settings to the informal meetings of old friends or strangers for impromptu sessions both inside and outdoors on the grounds. Really, there is something for everyone at NEFFA. It's a mammoth gathering of International traditional dance and musical arts. This years highlights for me: I played Fieldtown Valentine in a concertina trio for Morris dancing with my brother Tom Kruskal and Jan Elliot. I heard the best Mariachi band I've ever encountered. Fine potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream. The Romanian's were exceptional. I danced contras and English country. I had some exceptional old-time and scandi jams and some delicious song sessions with singers including a grand West Gallery session for 75 folks and an intimate group of five singers trading songs al-fresco as the late Sunday afternoon winded down. Now that NEFFA has ended, I'm in shock. Back to real life. What a great time! What a shame I can't do this year 'round all the time.

Indeed, awesome to hear. Track 4 features some bellows shaking as a tremolo, very tasteful but way more than I would ever play... still she makes it work. The backup bosuiki and piano are both top notch.

Wow Pete, what a great tune! I really like it. Evan Maguire, and a sweetly sad story too! ABC is such a functional format. Seeing the dots/chords in staff notation, plus the ability to play the tune back (melody only) with audio in various tempos, all in one easy package. I use EasyABC as my go-to ABC app. After playing along to your excelant tune for a few dozen times though, I found myself straying from your chord choices. How keen are you on your published chords? I found myself experimenting with a few different bass lines and contrasting harmony that... to my ear, seemed to enhance and support the tune rather nicely, yet somewhat differing from yours. Perhaps it is one of those tunes that lend themselves to multiple harmonic interpretations?

Wow Pete!

Ah ha! I see.

Hi Mike, so sorry as to being clueless... but what does the Hole with the Mint refer to? Your post eludes me.

Does anyone here live in South Wales? I'm looking for hospitality, a bed for the night on Wed. May 29th after singing a floor spot at The Llantrisant Folk Club http://folk.wales/updates/folk-club-wots-occurring/ 8.30pm at Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH I've never been to Llantrisant before, anyone here know of this club?

Ah... an interesting discussion about PC and Art, but life is short, so back to the original question. For instance, how does the Minstrel compare with the Stagi (at the Button Box) for $825? I seem to remember hearing about another maker coming in at under $2000. Who was that, or did I dream it?

Quite right Richard. Without home, I would be completely lost. I tried to make this ballad arrangement as fancy as I could, thinking it cleaver to show off, while showing up the lyrics for the droll comedy that they are. In performance though, I found that the song just sings itself.