NOAM PIKELNY: BANJO NEWSLETTER MARCH 2008

There is something jaw-dropping about Noam Pikelny’s banjo laying. His mastery and agility—his ability to play lines and scalar sections with fluidity, tone, drive and conviction—are all astounding. We all love the earthy, visceral sound of the banjo, but a musician that can play with the utmost technical prowess and yet retain that visceral vibe is truly special. Since Noam graced the cover of BNL in July 2004, his musical journey (via the John Cowan Band, Crooked Still, and Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Spectacular) has led him to the upper echelons of stringband musicians. Mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile of the now defunct Nickel Creek brought together a new crop of young string masters, as he put it, “to put his stamp on the traditional bluegrass band.”

Here is the full text from the Banjo Newsletter feature on lil' ol' me from July, 2008. Written by Jayme Stone:

Jake Schepps keeps his ear to ground. You just never know what to expect when you stop by his musical laboratory (a barn-like coach-house around the corner from me in ever-sunny Boulder, Colorado). There’s Jake working on a Bach lute suite one day, a hard-hitting Scruggs standard the next and counterpoint fiddle parts for his chamber roots ensemble, The Expedition Quartet, on a third day. Always keen to pick a fiddle tune, retrofit a pre-war pot assembly or preview a newly-penned piece, Jake is a true banjo renaissance man.

Review of Homespun Video’s “The Banjo Techniques of Jens Kruger: Developing Skills, Creativity, and Musicianship.” By Jake Schepps

Published in Banjo Newsletter , February 2007

As a long time fan of Jens Kruger, I was thrilled to learn he had recorded a new instructional DVD. The material covered Jens’s Homespun lesson is truly outstanding. It ranges from intermediate to quite difficult, yet there are important and inspiring aspects to Jens’ lesson for musicians of all levels. Jens’ relaxed demeanor and skilled ability to describe concepts makes this a tremendously useful lesson. And while the music is brilliant, what I found most meaningful and valuable in the video is a detailed view of Jens’ impressive musicality.

INTERVIEW WITH NOAM PIKELNY
Printed in Banjo Newsletter July, 2004
by Jake Schepps

In today’s post-Nickel Creek world, many of us have met hot-pickin’ wunderkind musicians. The musical inspirations and multitude of new learning tools have created an awe-inspiring next generation of bluegrassers. The exciting time of the mid-eighties with the high-caliber musicianship and wide-ranging influences, bands like Strength in Numbers moved acoustic musicians to advance their ideas, bringing tradition and fusing it with ever-far reaching influences.

Dr. Greg Liszt:
4-Finger Banjoist from Crooked Still & Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Band
Banjo Newsletter, June 2007