MP3 Mary Z. Cox & Yazid - Drumming On the Edge Of Banjo

Exciting blend of Mary Z's Celtic clawhammer frailing banjo with the sound of Bill "Yazid" Johnson's Afro-Caribbean drumming. Instrumentation also includes cello banjo, dulcimette, guitar, bass, pots & pans, and even featuring George Clinton singing.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (29:38) !
Related styles: World: Drumming, Country: Old-Timey, Type: Soundtrack

People who are interested in Bela Fleck Taj Mahal The Chieftains should consider this download.


Details:
Itâs very old and new at the same time--we believe it's our best CD yet. Afro/Caribbean drumming with Celtic claw hammer frailing fusion banjo. Entirely acoustic with fresh blends of banjos, cello banjo, djembe, congas, mountain dulcimer, dulcimette, guitar, bass, pots and pans, and featuring George Clinton singing "John Bowlin's Groundhog Strut."
recorded, engineered and produced by Gordy Cox.

The things we played :)
Goldtone 5 string cello banjo, Lame Horse oldtimer banjo, Gibson RB250 banjo, Deering John Hartford banjo,(the black and gold one) John Bowlin 1865 fretless banjo, (made from a tracing of Mary Zâs left hand) Ken Miller custom guitar, (Bob Coxâs 000) Blue Lion mountain dulcimer, Ron Ewing dulcimette, bowed bass, (Jim Crozier/Tallahassee's finest) djembes, congas, bell, Revere Ware copper bottom pots and pans,(a wedding gift from Ma Cox) snapping fingers, (Gordy Cox) wind chimes from the front porch,(Green Forest Lane) shakers, tambourine, Gordyâs car keys, church bells, George Clinton singing âOld Groundhog.â


The Back Story:

This is not another African roots meets modern banjo cd. It began as an American story--a blend of Afro/Caribbean, Celtic, old time, and a fusion of American music from the 17th to the 21st century.

It began with "The Old Plantation" painting from the 1700s. Two men are pictured playing a banjo and drum for a dance--and we wondered--where would that music have taken them with today's awesome banjos and drums and the freedom to choose their musicians?

We chose Yazid for this project because he is not African--but African American--and his drumming has a heavy Caribbean as well as African flavor. He more accurately reflects the feel of the music in colonial America gone modern--more than current African/American blends. :)

Mary Zâs family roots are Scotts, Irish, English, Hungarian and Bohemian. Her Celtic ancestors came to the Americas in the 1600s and 1700s and her middle European ancestors in the 1800s. We believe we have thrown the feel of this early American mix of music into the cook pot, let it simmer, andâvoila-- present day acoustic fusion.