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Interviews: Musicians

Blues Man John Hammond

Blues Man John Hammond

Given the current mainstream enthusiasm for bluegrass, do you feel blues music, which is an older form, really, has been overlooked or even misunderstood?

I think that blues has always been a major foundation in pop music, as has bluegrass. It's music of the people, it's fundamental, it's got all the passion and the zeal of great music. And I think blues has been in the past been overlooked in some ways, but I think more recently it's been acknowledged as the great music that it is.

 

Fiddle Champion Eileen Ivers

Fiddle Champion Eileen Ivers

She learned to play from an Irish fiddler in the back of a New York City bar. Since then, her career has led her to gigs with everyone from the London Symphony to the Chieftains. She has homes in Ireland and the states and her current band is called ...

Doyle Lawson

Doyle Lawson

Today is Thursday, March the 31st as I live and breathe, and one more day to April Fool’s Day. Ironically, that’s a good day because that’s the day I put my band together – tomorrow’ll be 26 years. Hope I’m talkin’ enough…

Now, you play mandolin as we...

Del McCoury

Del McCoury

Well, first of all, why bluegrass, and why the banjo? I know that's where you started.

True, I'll tell you. Well, I guess I was at a certain age, you know, I was 11, no, was it 9, 11, 11 I think when I heard Earl Scruggs - it's hard for me to remember...

Banjo Virtuoso Bela Fleck

Banjo Virtuoso Bela Fleck

One thing that stands out to me about your work is the huge diversity – you play jazz, classical, bluegrass rock – with musicians from all those genres – is it ever difficult to make the mental switch, so to speak?

Actually, it’s all music to me. Once...

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