Photo by Russ Harrington
There was a time when I would have told you that my knowledge of the banjo was limited to whom I considered one of the most famous banjo players, who also happens to be my favorite musical amphibian, Mr. Kermit The Frog. “The Rainbow Connection” a la “The Muppet Movie” as performed by the little green dude, the world’s greatest producer, was my first introduction to the string instrument and will forever hold a special place in my heart.
However, the limits of this knowledge were tested upon speaking with one of the most famous banjoists of the non-Muppet variety, world-renowned banjo player Alison Brown. I nervously shared this silly piece of my childhood with her as soon as we met. Unsure of how to relate to a musician, not only of this caliber, but one who specializes in an instrument that I had previously known so little about, I felt foolish looking for a connection but Ms. Brown could not have been more kind and understanding.
Photo by Neil Culbertson
“Kermit is one of the most famous banjo players in the world, for sure. For me, my introduction to the banjo was a little bit more authentic; it was Earl Scruggs. I heard his banjo playing when I was about ten or eleven years old and I was taking guitar lessons at the time. A part of the great folk scare of the early ‘70s. My guitar teacher brought over Earl’s 'Foggy Mountain' banjo record, my dad made a cassette tape of it for me, and I just loved the sound of the instrument.”
Brown explained that, at her parents' behest, she was to continue learning the guitar before she would be allowed to take on the banjo. She certainly rose to that challenge and has been playing both the guitar and banjo ever since. Her discography boasts twelve albums as an artist, three of which were Grammy nominated and one of which took home the prize. She can also say that she has produced twenty-one albums, seven of which hold Grammy nominations. Widely recognized as one of the most multi-faceted minds on today’s roots music scene, she is also the well-respected co-founder of the internationally recognized roots music label, Compass Records Group, which Billboard Magazine once called “one of the greatest independent labels of the last decade.”
Seeing the creative life she’s built for herself despite boasting an undergraduate degree from Harvard, an MBA from UCLA, and having started her professional career as an Investment Banker on Wall Street, I asked Alison what I ask of so many professional artists. How did you make that jump to a life of creativity?
Photo by Russ Harrington
“I strongly believe that big changes can come in small steps. I think that if you’re driven to do something creative, it’s really important to follow your passion because it will feed your soul, and it is part of the journey of understanding who you are. Becoming a musician has helped me to understand myself better. I would definitely encourage people to do that but it is certainly a hard way to make a living so finding that balance between making a living and your art; that’s where the challenge comes in. Maybe it’s not something that you need to quit your job for but maybe you leave more space in your life for it. Like I said, big changes can come in baby steps. You don’t need to jump off the cliff.”
As she continues to amass accolades, Brown still shares her talents as a teacher and finds it a responsibility and privilege to do so. “I love teaching the banjo. When you’re just starting out, you are the beneficiary of people being willing to pass along what they know, and as you get further down the road, you realize that you are a link in the chain of passing that tradition along.”
In the vein of fostering new talent, she takes great pride in her role as co-chair of The Steve Martin Banjo Prize. The program, now under the direction of the Freshgrass Foundation, has put half a million dollars into the banjo community over the past decade with an unrestricted fifty thousand dollar award given annually to a master bluegrass or old-time banjo player.
“It’s great to have a platform that helps to nurture the careers of the up-and-coming players. It lets them know that all of the hours spent alone in their room, the sweat, tears, self-doubt, and everything that goes into playing the banjo at a high level is being recognized.”
There is something inherently joyous about the sound of a banjo, the notion of which is reminiscent of an old comedy routine by Steve Martin. He’d say “The banjo is such a happy instrument--you can't play a sad song on the banjo - it always comes out so cheerful.” It was Brown who reminded me of this routine as we spoke about the cheery sound of the banjo and her continued collaborations with Steve Martin. I was excited to share with her that I’d been listening to “Bluegrass Radio” nearly nonstop. With lyrics by Martin and music by Brown, the tune is impossibly catchy - you can’t help but bop to it! Trust me when I say, I’ve had it playing on repeat. It boosts my mood on the most difficult of days so imagine my elation upon hearing that the two will be collaborating on yet another album. Brown was actually prepping for some session work on a shared track to be recorded just after our interview. The album is without a name as of yet but she’s open to suggestions. Perhaps her fans can step in.
Brown will be bringing her love of the banjo to the Count Basie Center for the Arts this March. She will be sharing music from across her catalog, including music from her latest album, “On Banjo.” The preceding album, “Songs of the Banjo” focuses on recognizable songs like “Time After Time” or “Feels So Good,” with melodies that are easily recognizable to audiences but offer new arrangements that allow them to experience the unique sound of her instrument. These are some of Brown’s favorites to share because the well-known tunes welcome new and curious fans into the fold. It’s all a part of her not-so-secret mission to repopularize the banjo; she is determined to encourage newcomers, like me, to fall in love with the instrument that she feels reflects our American culture.
“The banjo was America’s instrument at the end of the 1800’s. Everybody played the banjo! It was the parlor instrument of choice but it’s lost some of its appeal. People think the instrument is only good for accompanying bank robberies and high-speed car chases now but its history is so long and deep. It's capable of so much more and it so uniquely speaks to our culture and origin story as a country. We are on a mission to bring the banjo back to number one again. For people who aren’t sure, if they give it a chance, I think they’ll love it.”
You can give it a chance on March 27th at 7:30 pm at the Count Basie Center for the Arts. Stop by the CD table to say hello to Alison and maybe even share your thoughts on a title for that next album.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Count Basie Center for the Arts is located at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, New Jersey.
