Just heard that the great Vassar Clements has left us after his long struggle with cancer. God speed.
I had the opportunity to see him play live a couple times at festivals. A phenomenal artist.
Full Version: Vassar Clements exits
One of the greats... 
Unfortunately, no one gets out of this life alive.
I appreciate good fiddle players. One of my all times faves is Stephane Grapelli of the Hot Club of France. He died in 1997 at age 89.
We've got a great one here in OKC in Byron Berline, who many cite as the lone contemporary of Vassar Clements. He owns a fiddle shop of all things in Guthrie, OK.
Charles Burnham is another good one. I just got in my $40 CD of James Blood Ulmer's "Odyssey." Apparently, it's a collector's item and not in print. I've been writing a little back and forth with drummer Warren Benbow from that band.
I knew a couple of the Texas Playboys but never knew any fiddle players. My personal fave is Johnny Gimble. I'm not sure what year it was (1990s though) but I went to a Texas Playboys reunion of sorts. I saw guitarist Eldon Shamblin and Johnny Gimble play together. I'd seen Eldon play with some other fiddle players but Johnny Gimble seemed to sync with Eldon's jazz chords better than the others.
Unfortunately, no one gets out of this life alive.
I appreciate good fiddle players. One of my all times faves is Stephane Grapelli of the Hot Club of France. He died in 1997 at age 89.
We've got a great one here in OKC in Byron Berline, who many cite as the lone contemporary of Vassar Clements. He owns a fiddle shop of all things in Guthrie, OK.
Charles Burnham is another good one. I just got in my $40 CD of James Blood Ulmer's "Odyssey." Apparently, it's a collector's item and not in print. I've been writing a little back and forth with drummer Warren Benbow from that band.
I knew a couple of the Texas Playboys but never knew any fiddle players. My personal fave is Johnny Gimble. I'm not sure what year it was (1990s though) but I went to a Texas Playboys reunion of sorts. I saw guitarist Eldon Shamblin and Johnny Gimble play together. I'd seen Eldon play with some other fiddle players but Johnny Gimble seemed to sync with Eldon's jazz chords better than the others.
I just found this out a few days ago as well. He played a long time and was one of my favorites.
I don't know if his love of Big Bands made him stand out or what, but I really dug him.
God bless him.
I don't know if his love of Big Bands made him stand out or what, but I really dug him.
God bless him.
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