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A few years ago I was jamming out at Huck Finn with the kind of folks that come to festivals to jam and don’t pay much attention to the bands on stage. Around 2 PM, we heard that Michael Cleveland would be on the main stage in a few minutes. Those hard core jammers immediately quit playing, put their instruments back into their cases, and headed for the main stage.
I’m glad I didn’t miss Michael that day. Sure, I had heard his incredible fiddling on CDs lots of times, but hearing him live on stage is an experience. The power, drive, and intensity of his fiddling, and the way that intensity percolates through the whole band, leave you with a sensory imprint that stays long after the performance ends. I guess you’d call it an unforgettable experience.
So what goes into the making of a fiddle phenom like Michael? From a couple of recent
interviews,* we know that, astoundingly, no one in his family played a musical instrument. His grandparents, however, were avid fans of bluegrass and helped organize a local bluegrass
association that held monthly jams, open mics, and shows. It was at one of those events that Michael first heard Orange Blossom Special. “All I wanted to do,” he says, “was play that tune. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
That was when Michael was four years old back in Henryville, Indiana (about 20 miles north of Louisville), where he was born in 1980. Blind at birth, Michael has clearly never let anything hold him back. As a thirteen-year-old,( continued on page 2)
The Bluegrass Association of
Southern California
PO Box 10885Canoga Park CA
91309(818) 221-4680
On line atsocalbluegrass.org
Board of DirectorsHarley TarlitzJeffrey Fleck
Bob CesaroneBen Weinberg
Nanette WeinbergPaul Kovich
Michael Stein
EditorJeffrey Fleck310-390-4391
This Month at BASCThe Official eNewsletter of the Bluegrass Association of Southern California
September 2011No. 9 Volume 3
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper with Loafer’s Glory
Sunday, September 25th, 2011, 7:00 PMFord Amphitheatre * 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East * Hollywood CA 90068
Tickets: (323) 461-3673 or online at Fordtheatres.org
Michael Cleveland
(continued from page 1)he put it this way: "I don't think of it too much, you know. There are some things I can't do, but I'm gonna make do with what I can do."
Michael studied classical violin in his school music program under the Suzuki method. "But I told the teacher straight off that I wanted to play bluegrass," he says. "She really didn't know what bluegrass was at that time. Well, she did, but she thought bluegrass was Charlie Daniels." So it was from good local fiddle players, participation in fiddle contests, and listening to records that Michael learned his bluegrass. “That’s pretty much my training in bluegrass,” he says
By the time he was entering his teens, Michael’s extraordinary talents were being recognized. At 13, he was picked to play in Pete Wernick’s Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the 1993 IBMA Awards Ceremony along with other future bluegrass stars, Chris Thile, Josh Williams, and Cody Kilby. Later that year, Allison Krause invited Michael to play with her at the Grand Ole’ Opry.
Michael became a full-time bluegrass musician after graduating from the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville in 1999. Within a year he was playing with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and in 2001 earned his first IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year while sharing IBMA Entertainer of the Year with Vincent. The following year, Michael’s first solo CD on Rounder, Flamekeeper, was named IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year. Since then, Michael has been named IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year seven more times, and his band, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper has been named Instrumental Group of the Year four times.
Michael describes his band’s style as “hard driving bluegrass music...like what ... Reno and Smiley, Flatt and Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, or any of those guys who set the standard for this music would have brought.” It’s “just that kind of energy” that Michael loves and that his band generates in abundance. Take it from one of those hard core jammers who left the jam to see Michael that afternoon at Huck Finn.--by Jeff Fleck* Quotations are from interviews with Michael conducted by James Reed in 2009 for the Boston Globe and Susan Viebrock in 2011 for the Telluride Festival.
This Month at BASC Page 2 September 2011
Jams Around TownPlease Note: The
September Bluegrass Jam in the Park has been canceled due to the Michael Cleveland Concert on Sunday, the 25th. See You
at the Ford!
The Soup Jam2420 Gundry Ave.
Signal Hill CA 90755Tuesdays 7:00 PM
The New Westside JamIndustry&Jazz Cafe6039 Washington Bl.
Culver City, CA1st Monday 7:30 PM
The Altadena JamCoffee Gallery2029 N. LakeAltadena, CA
2nd Sunday 12:30 PM
Orange County Archery
18792 Brookhurst St.Fountain Valley CA1st/3rd Thurs, 6 PM
Zoey’s Cafe185 E. Santa Clara St.
Ventura CA 930012nd/4th Tuesdays 6-10 P
The Latest CD
Michael Cleveland
The Gig Watch
Bodie Mountain ExpressSundays, 2-4 PM
Mill Creek Cattle Co.Mentone CA
The BrombiesMondays 7:30 - 10:30 PM
Viva CantinaBurbank CASept. 11th
Aliso Creek InnLaguna Beach CA
The Get Down BoysSept. 18, 10 PM - 1 AM
Liquid KittyWest LA, CASept. 23-25
King’s River Bluegrass Festival
Sanger CAGrasslands
Sept. 27th, 8 -9 PMSD Bluegrass Society
Boll WeevilSan Diego, CA
Murphy’s FlawSept 10th, 3-5 PM
Jones Coffee RoastersPasadena, CASalty Suites
Sept. 15th, 8 PMThe Coffee Gallery
BackstageAltadena CA
Sometimes in TuneSept. 18th, 5 PM
St. Luke Lutheran Church
Woodland Hills CAWimberley Bluegrass
BandSundays, 12 -3 PMRiley’s at Los Rios
RanchOak Glen CA
Sept. 15th, 8:00 PMThe Coffee Gallery
BackstageAltadena CA
With the ever advancing higher technology in the music process, it’s refreshing to know that one band on the music scene is more into the development of good solid live performances rather than the pyrotechnics that go with today’s new look of country music and its by-products.
Southern California has always been a haven for interested parties trying to find good live bluegrass, folk and blues. In the winter of February 2010, four players decided to form a new group with a direction combining the best of old-time and bluegrass music.
These brave hearts have been playing acoustic music for the better part of 45 years, and found that this is indeed the time for another highly skilled acoustic band… “Loafer’s Glory”.
Tom Sauber has been in the forefront of the traditional old-time music scene for more years than he cares to admit. An accomplished fiddle and 5- string banjo player, he has appeared on countless recording projects and movie sound tracks and has a healthy teaching schedule to boot. Tom’s love of the music had brightened up many sessions and performances with people like Alice Gerrard, Mike Seeger, Dirk Powell and Mark Graham.
Patrick Sauber, Tom’s son, came essentially from the same musical background as his dad. He’s one of those astounding multi-instrumentalists who feels at home on the 5-string as he does on the mandolin and guitar. Patrick works occasionally with Laurie Lewis, the Bladerunners, and now with Loafer’s Glory, adding a punch musically and vocally that everybody is talking about. Patrick will definitely leave his mark on the acoustic music scene for years to come.
Over the past 40-odd years, Bill Bryson has lent his talents to some of the best bands in the business. He’s not only a great upright bass player, but also an accomplished old time banjo player and an amazing singer/songwriter. Oh. He’s pretty funny too. Bill has recorded and continues to record with a lot of great talents that need his special talents.
Herb Pedersen has been involved with bands like The Dillards, The Country Gazette, Old & In The Grey, Chris Hillman with Tony & Larry Rice, Here Today, and Vern & Ray. He also played with The Foggy Mountain Boys for a time, subbing for Earl Scruggs back in the late 60’s. Herb also writes an occasional tune when needed, and has done his share of studio recording with other artists.
Loaferʼs Glory
Tom Sauber, Herb Pedersen, Bill Bryson, Patrick Sauber
This Month at BASC Page 3 September 2011
Salty Suites Come to BASC Bluegrass Night at Viva Cantina
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 8:00 PMViva Cantina * 900 Riverside Drive * Burbank CA 91506
Our WonderfulSponsors
This Month at BASC Page 4 September 2011
Fall Equinox Folk Music Storytelling and Dance
FestivalSeptember 10th-11th
Rancho Cordillera del NorteNorthridge CA
Get all the details atCTMSFolkmusic.org
Original songs, traditional music of the world, bluegrass, Depression and Old Country, swing, classical, roots with a current edge: The Salty Suites push the music of America to their own cloud, but keep true to the feelings and depth of emotion this music brings.
Scott Gates on mandolin has been a mainstay at traditional festivals for years and holds a special place in his heart for people he sees year after year.
Chuck Hailes, schooled in classical and jazz bass playing and techniques, writes his own music and has teamed with Scott to create fresh new pieces. Chuck sings and plays in a way that is uniquely his own.
Chelsea Williams has been writing and performing her own music since she was 13. and has penned nearly 100 original songs to date. Chelsea currently makes her living by playing on the Santa Monica Promenade for tips and selling a home-made demo. Elaine Gregston, accordion, was born and raised in rural West Texas and began her education in classical piano at an early age. Her studies included a stay in Vienna, and she has participated in many local classical competitions.
Our new venue at Viva Cantina in Burbank offers ample table seating and a full menu of Mexican and American food, including margaritas and beer at special prices. Viva Cantina is easy to find and there is ample parking at the bowling alley across the street.
Chelsea, Chuck, Elaine, and Scott
The Bluegrass Association of Southern California presents...
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Sunday, September 25th, 7:00 PM
With Loafer’s Glory
Ford Amphitheatre2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood CA 90068
Order Tickets On Line: www.FordTheatres.org - Phone: (323) 461-3673
And at all BASC events.
Michael Cleveland is “one of the greatest improvising violin players in any style.” -- Matt Glaser, Berklee College of Music
This Month at BASC Page 5 September 2011
This Month at BASC Page 6 September 2011
WE ARE BASC. The Bluegrass Association of Southern California. Here’s what we do.The BASC Bluegrass Jam in the Park: On the fourth Sunday of every month, pickers from far and wide gather at the CTMS Center for Folk Music in Encino Park for one of Southern California’s premier bluegrass events, the BASC Bluegrass Jam in the Park. This jam is for pickers of all skills and experience. Bluegrass Night at Viva Cantina: On the third Tuesday of every month, we provide a showcase for Southern California’s best bluegrass bands (and an occasional traveling band) at this great Burbank restaurant. Admission is free and Viva Cantina serves up some of the best American and Mexican food around, and at reasonable prices. Bluegrass at the Ford: Since 1997, we have brought top national bluegrass bands to Los Angeles for this annual summer concert. Past artists have included J.D. Crowe, Laurie Lewis, and IIIrd Tyme Out. This September we are presenting the most exciting band in Bluegrass today, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, along with the great local band, Loafer’s Glory.BASC eNewsletter: We keep track of Southern California bluegrass jams, gigs, and festivals with our unique eNewsletter. The eNewsletter goes out each month to all our members and friends, via email, Facebook, and regular mail for members without computer access. BASC Web Page: Our web page at www.socalbluegrass.org is a valuable source of information about bluegrass going-ons in Southern California. It also has an interactive calendar where you can list your own Bluegrass events. Check it out. BASC Volunteers:. We help people get involved in the bluegrass scene and meet a lot of nice folks, as well. Bring your talents, energy, and dreams, and help us make it happen.BASC Member Bands: We list all Southern California gigs of our member bands each month in our eNewsletter. Member bands also get a chance to show their stuff to an enthusiastic audience at BASC Bluegrass Night.
Bluegrass Association of Southern California One-Year Membership
Individual $20.00 Family $25.00 Band $30.00
Name___________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________
Phone__________________________Email____________________________
Membership Type________ Amount Enclosed $_________
Mail this coupon and your check to: BASC c/o Ben Weinberg 16799 Schoenborn St.
North Hills CA 91343
