Mass Resonator

When anyone is asked about George Winston, the majority of folks may respond that they know Winston for his beautiful and unique piano music and extensive knowledge of the form. In truth, he’s also an incredibly accomplished guitarist as well as a harmonica player - and quite an authority on Hawaiian Slack Key playing. We were lucky enough to do a Take 5 interview with George in anticipation of his benefit solo guitar concert on Friday, October 30th at Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City. Details of the upcoming concert follow the interview.

1. Some people might be surprised to know you’ve been such an active advocate for Hawaiian Slack Key music with your Dancing Cat Records label for over 21 years. I have several of the discs and didn’t realize you were the man behind the label! How did a pianist become such a Slack Key fan as to start a label?

GEORGE: Actually I am a solo instrumental player on the guitar and the harmonica as well as the piano. Many of the great Hawaiian Slack Key guitarists are influences and inspirations to my own playing, and about 40% of what I play on solo guitar is Hawaiian. I started the label to record much more of the music of these great players.

GEORGE: Very minimal on the piano and harmonica as far as a direct influence, but inspiring for everything I play.

GEORGE: I play almost everything in Open G Major (C)-D-G-D-G-B-D from lowest › Continue reading

Rudie Blazer

One of today’s most revered luthiers and restorers, Rudie Blazer of Germany’s incredible  Blazer & Henkes Guitars will be visiting Mass St. Music on Saturday, Sept. 26th where he’ll join Jim Baggett and friends for a free Guitar Clinic focusing on Building, Restoration and Repair of fine steel stringed guitars. The clinic is free, and there will be plenty of Q & A time. We thought we’d get a jump start by asking Rudie a few questions -

TAKE 5 (plus 2) with RUDIE BLAZER:

1. I’ve seen you play a great rendition of “Blackberry Rag” and “Beaumont Rag” on youtube.com. What’s your musical background?

RUDIE:  Well, when I try a guitar, like on youtube, I usually play some G runs,  and then try a fiddle tune, to hear what it sounds like. As a kid I had to listen to a lot of classical music, and then it was  the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and after some time Doc Watson, and a lot of Bluegrass. As a musician I work in the local theater, and I play in a Western swingband, using a Gibson ES 125 and a prewar J-200.

2. How did you get into guitar building?

RUDIE:  After leaving school, and doing nothing but playing guitar all day, › Continue reading

(This interview was originally done in August 2009, before his Sept ‘09 show). We’re excited to have the great Roy Book Binder play Mass St. Music again on Friday, June 11, 2010.  He’s not only a killer blues and folk guitarist, but a real entertainer who has lived a life that provides plenty of fodder for his true tales. He was kind enough to take some time to answer a few questions because, you know, inquiring minds want to know. Tickets for this show are $15 and are available at the store, by phone (785-843-3535) and at our store website at www.massstreetmusic.com

More tunes and tales than you shake a stick at

TAKE 5 with Roy:

1. How did your friendship with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen (Roy teaches sometimes at Jorma’s Fur Peace Ranch) come about?

ROY: Back in the ‘old days’, back in the ’60s, often when I played ‘Hesitation Blues’, someone would yell out, “JORMA!!”… › Continue reading