Fiddle Tunes for Banjo-Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, Bela Fleck
Rounder Records – 0124 (1981) – CD 0124 (1999)

In early 1980, three generations of banjoists came together for the album “fiddle tune for banjo”, following in the footsteps of the innovations introduced by Bill in the early 60s. In addition to Bill (b. 1939), there was Tony Trischka (b. 1949) and Trischka’s former pupil, the young Béla Fleck (b. 1958), who was destined for a dazzling career. All three are influenced not only by bluegrass, but also by jazz, classical, and various world music genres.

Our three banjoists open the album together with ‘Bill Cheatham‘, combining different styles. The CD version also contains 2 bonus 3-banjo tracks: ‘John Hardy‘ and the classic ‘Salt Creek’, originally composed & recorded by Bill with Monroe in 1964.

At the age of 22, Béla Fleck already has a solo album to his credit, featuring Russ Barenberg and Sam Bush and , but he also plays in the group Spectrum with Glenn Lawson (guitar) and Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin). These last three musicians and his sidekick Mark Schatz (bass) accompany him on this album. Béla Fleck contributes five tracks, including two of his own compositions.

Tony Trischka contributes four tracks, including 2 compositions of his own. He reunites with his New York accomplices Andy Statman (mandolin) and Russ Barenberg (guitar) and Kenny Kosek (fiddle). Californian Darol Anger (fiddle), founding member of the David Grisman Quintet, plays on two tracks.

Bill Keith is accompanied by Kenny Kosek, with whom he has toured Europe and the USA and who recorded on the Keith & Collier album; Russ Barenberg, who toured with him as a duo in Japan; and Gordon Titcomb, a multi-instrumentalist who plays mandolin here, and with whom he collaborated on the Woodstock Mountains Revue (1978), and who would appear on Bill’s subsequent solo albums.

Bill contributes four tracks, including two of his own compositions: “Clinging Vine” and “Mead Mountain Blues”, an unconventional Celtic-style piece featuring a subtle dialogue between Bill’s banjo and Kenny and Larry Campbell‘s fiddles. “Jolly Waffle Man” features an interesting chord progression from major to minor, offering subtle variations between the instruments. Finally, in more traditional fashion, Bill Keith and his partners (Matt Glaser replaces Larry Campbell) give a superb rendition of Monroe’s “Panhandle Country”.

In a review of this album twenty years after its release, writer Chet Williamson declares: “For the banjo pickers and lovers among us, this is a must have, as much a summit meeting of banjo players as “The Three Tenors” is a summit meeting of, well, tenors. (..) It’s also a hoot to hear young Bela Fleck on the threshold of his career, as well as the pickers who inspired him ”. In its context, this is certainly the most innovative banjo record I’ve ever heard.

‘Carolina In My Mind’ – Woodstock Mountains Revue : Back to Mud Acres (Rounder Records – 3065, 1981)
Banjo: Bill Keith, Bass: Roly Salley, Fiddle: Caroline Dutton, Guitar, Lead Vocals: Happy Traum Harmony Vocals: Andy Robinson, Mandolin, Pedal Steel Guitar: Larry Campbell – Recorded August 10-12, 1981 Grogkill Studios, Mt. Tremper, NY

Bill Keith – ‘Banjoistics’ (Rounder Records – 0148, 1981)

Peter Rowan – ‘The First Whippoorwill’ (Sugar Hill Records – SH-3749, 1985)
‘The First Whippoorwill‘ est un album hommage de Peter Rowan à Bill Monroe, qui ne contient que des compositions de ce dernier. Produit par Peter Rowan et Jim Rooney, il est accompagné d’un groupe de premier ordre, comprenant Alan O’Bryant (2° guitare, Tenor vocal), Buddy Spicher (fiddle – hamony), Sam Bush( mandoline, Baryton vocal), Roy Huskey Jr. (basse) et ses partenaires de longue date: Bill Keith (banjo) et Richard Greene (fiddle – lead, Basse Vocal).

David’s Rounder Album Band – ‘Live at Grass Valley’ (Bluegrass festival, Ca July 30 1989) – (David Grisman (mandolinà , Tony Rice (guitar), Bill Keith (banjo), Vassar Clements (fiddle), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Mark Schatz (bass)) Acoustic disc/Acoustic Oasis Downloads

Bill Keith – ‘Beating Around the Bush’ (Green Linnet GLCD 2107, 1992)

The Grass Is Greener: Richard Greene (fiddle), Bill Keith (banjo), David Grier (guitar), Kenny Blackwell (mandolin), Tim Emmons (bass) – ‘Traditional Bluegrass Instrumentals’ (Rebel Records – REB-1714, 1995)

Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, Eric Weissberg, Kenny Kosek, Stacy Phillips, Molly Mason – ‘Footprints In The Snow’ in Song Of The Hills: Appalachian Classics (Shanachie – 6041, 1999 – track 5)

Gordon Titcomb – ‘The Last Train Rising’ (Son Records 2005)

Tony Trischka, Bill Keith – ‘Trompe De L’oreille’ (‘Territory’ – Smithsonian Folkways · SFW CD 40169, 2008) feat. Paula Bradley, piano