It's always nice to reconnect to folks from the past, and it's wonderful to meet your idols. A few weeks ago I got to do both when Darol Anger and his Republic of Strings played Fairbanks.
When I was in college at University of California at Santa Cruz, a bluegrass band called Tin Roof played in the dining hall. Their fiddle player really knocked me out and I began to try to catch him whenever he played, at Cooperhouse, and around town. Eventually I got up my gumption and talked to him, and that's how I got a fiddle lesson with Darol Anger.
I have to say that he was an extremely generous and kind person then, and certainly appears to be the same today. When I spoke with him after the concert he remembered me, and we chatted about the Santa Cruz days a bit together, and parted with a hug.
His musical generosity was apparent that night. Long ago, when I'd asked him to show me something, or asked him how he did something, he showed me. The truly great don't feel threatened by other musicians. I have run into musicians who won't show me how they did something because they were afraid I'd "steal their licks." This is a sure sign that those people aren't going to go anywhere with their music. The more you share, the more you learn. It's an open door, and music belongs to everyone. Darol was just as open and generous as he could be with his music. It was clear he was still like that, because he had a group of musicians that were confident, charismatic and simply stunning in their abilities. Everyone took solos, everyone took leads, and sometimes you could see Darol standing a bit back just grooving on the whole thing.
Brittany Haas plays the fiddle with the Republic of Strings. Right there that's another very clear sign that Darol is not a prima donna! Most fiddle players I know don't want to be in a band with two fiddles. They want to be the only violin! I love playing in a band with two fiddles! There are wonderful possibilities with two beautiful voices like that! Brittany has a style that blends elements of Swedish, Russian and other traditions. She's very smooth and melodic. I enjoyed the tone of her violin, which was much brighter than Darol's, something I am sure they worked out together.
Scott Nygaard, editor of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, played guitar flawlessly. I was too far away to see what kind of guitar it was, but I suspect it was a Martin. He is a good flatpicker as well as a consummate rhythm player, and indeed, the rhythms he had to produce were at times quite complex.
Rushad Eggleston played a fierce cello, doing things, as Darol said during the concert, "I've never seen a cellist do, EVER." Wearing purple pants and and a scowl, he attacked his instrument with gusto, pulling sounds out of it I certainly had never heard before, either. After the concert he told me that he's in no less than seven rock bands in New York City (in which he plays electric guitar). It fit.
That night the Republic of Strings played music from all over the world, something that attracts me greatly, as I love exploring different musical traditons. I think my favorite piece was a Brazilian one, "Andre de Sabato Nuovo," the musical story of a man who has bought new shoes..........and they're too small.
Other destinations included Ireland, Africa, Scandinavia, Manhattan and Appalachia. Plus I kept hearing that Swedish influence in Brittany Haas fiddle. Very wonderful stuff.
I'm all set for citizenship in the Republic of Strings. If Darol will let me know what the national anthem is, I'll play it.
