I’ve just “launched” my bones web site: Bones.JeffLeff.com. Check it out if you’re interested. I’ll probably add some Irish sound clips soon (there’s just some American Old-Timey stuff up there now). Let me know what you think, or if there’s anything you’d like to see or hear there.
I’ll be in the Washington DC area next week attending Bones Fest August 20-22. I’ll be there early and stay later, from Monday the 16th till Wednesday the 25th. If anyone would like to meet up and talk about or play music or whistles (I’ll bring a nice collection) or concertinas or whatever, let me know. Or if there’s something “not to be missed” nearby, I’d love hearing about it.
Wow, Bones Fest. I wish I still lived in Maryland…
If you get a chance to go into Baltimore, there’s some great sessions at the James Joyce and also at J. Patricks. My Bodhran and Bones teacher Deborah Brower will most likely be at Bones Fest, if you need a local to show you around…
P.S. I was looking at the “How to Make Wrapped Bones” section of your site. What sort of bone is that in the pictures? It appears (my computer’s colors are bad) to be a lighter wood with a strip of darker wood (Purpleheart?) tapering down the middle. Those are very attractive.
As it happens, I live in Reston, so I’ll try to stop by some time to hear some bones. Unfortunately, I’m in the midst of some killer travel, so I can’t spend much time. Is there a schedule for events at the BonesFest?
Wow, great name for a bones player, is she possibly related to Frank Brower, “the First Minstrel Bones Player?” I guess I’ll be able to ask her…
Those are Whamdiddle bones, out of Washington state I believe. They’re pretty expensive, I think that pair was $28, and I really don’t use them…they have a bit of a brittle sound, which is why I was trying wrapping them, but I’ve stuck to my old worn-in leather-wrapped Danforths for that sort of thing. At least making bones has pretty much cured my BoOA.
Great, I think I can make it! Thanks. How late does it run?
And I guarantee I still won’t need to play anywhere near full volume! I’ll add a short story here: I was doing a gig where the rest of the band was amplified: three voices, banjo, upright bass, fiddle, accordion. I said I didn’t need a mic. Before we started playing, to warm up, I held two pairs of very loud bones at full length, held away from the palm slightly for maximum ringing volume, and gave them a big whip, and POW! I happened to be standing near the bass player (who’s played with us for almost a year now), who with a stunned look on her face, said, “do that again!” So I did. POW! She just stared for a second. So I said, “now you know how much I’ve been holding back all this time…”
Oh, one more thing, a plea for help: the video files don’t quite work properly for me in Internet Explorer (I usually use Opera, which handles them just fine). It downloads the video when you click on it, but then complains that it can’t find it when Media Player launches. If you save it manually to your hard drive then double-click it there, it works fine. Anyone have an idea why that would happen?
Huh, well sound is the most important thing, but they are purty…
BTW, do you ever have plans for a “Making your own Bones” section of your website? It seems straight forward, but I’m a woodworking novice…
I like your outfit on the front page of the site… the hat and vest are spiffy.
If anyone here has NOT tried playing the bones, you really should consider it-- lots of fun. Jeff sent me a pair in Macacauba (along with the wood to make him a whistle). His instructions are quite clear and using them and the website, you oughta be able to learn how to play them. It takes a while and then, all of a sudden, the bones begin to "dance’ as Jeff puts it. Once it happens for you, you’ll know what he means.
It was great! I saw several players who were quite inspiring, trying stuff on bones I haven’t seen before. It was also great to see the traditional strain of American bones players, including some people in their 70s and 80s who had played all their lives and learned from their parents. The event showed how the bones are a “personal” instrument – everyone finds their own way of holding and playing them. One very interesting fellow, “Kenny B”, who plays percussion in the President’s Own Marine Band, has been applying snare drum rudiments to the bones with very interesting results. Steven Brown, the “All-Ireland Bones Playing Championship” winner of the last two years was very good – extremely precise and solid. Mel Mercier was also a treat to see – lots of style and humor.
I wish I had more time to prepare things to play, without my usual bandmates I was a bit lost, but I had several good jamming opportunities. A highlight was a duet of “Over the Waterfall” with Jonathan Danforth (grandson of Percy Danforth) on fiddle during one “member spotlight” concert. At least we were able to run through it once before the show, and it’s a tune we both know well and like.
I also broke out my concertina and whistle a bit, which was fun. I played some improvised African-esque whistle stuff along to an udu drum and bones. I also dropped by a local pub and played bones with Patrick](http://www.poflaherty.com/%22%3EPatrick) O’Flaherty, who was doing a solo gig of Irish tunes and songs. That was good fun, he was even nice enough to give me one of his CDs. I was also talking to some friendly locals, and played a few tunes for them on whistle off to the side a bit between songs. Patrick wasn’t familiar with Over the Waterfall, and was picking it up on the box as I ran through it a few times.
Jeff, I was wondering if you knew where they plan to hold the next BonesFest? If it’s in Greensboro, NC again, I’ll definately be there. (I didn’t even know about it when it was being held 45mins. from me… )
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