Here's a short vid of John Dee Holman-88 years young and Phil Wiggins. They are both recipients of NEA National Heritage Fellowship. We don't talk much about Phil here,but we should. He's a monster player.
Iceman-indeed it is Hallihurst porch. This is my 2nd year there and I just love it. Immersed in music all week. I checked out the Icehouse several times through the week and there wasn't much happening. I don't know if my timing was poor or it just wasn't a busy jam site. I've heard from some Augusta veterans about the legendary jams there.Attendance seemed to be down from last year. I've been told there were as many as 800 attendees during the 90's. That seems like way too many,but I don't know. I heard there was some jams during the week that started at 2am but I was sawing logs by then.
Well, Tuckster...glad you are able to experience Blues Week. I attended as student and returned as teacher for many years during the 90's which I consider the Golden Years and yes, there may have been 800 attendees during Blues Week when it was paired up with Cajun Week. The party got so huge that they had to separate these two themes and not allow them to be held during the same week. Jams would literally continue until sunrise. The Icehouse would be JAM PACKED with bodies and rockin' all night long. Well, nothing lasts forever and it is now a mere shadow of its former self in regards to attendance, but is still a great experience for those that have never attended.
Hey, did you hang out with Bruce Cushman at last year's blues week? He is one of my current students and went last year at my suggestion. Bruce signed up for the more beginner classes and got frustrated with how the teacher was trying to show the students how to bend. Apparently he pulled one student, who was having no luck, aside and spent a few minutes with him showing him my tongue placement approach to good success.
I'll see Bruce tomorrow night. If you used the name "Tuckster" during blues week, he may remember you. If you used your real name, email me off this list and tell me what it is so I can run it by Bruce. My email address is on my profile page here.
As a side note, I also used to work on all those pianos at Davis and Elkins as well. I kinda miss them, as they became "my babies".
OK, meet me at Scottie's for breakfast! ---------- The Iceman
Scottie's lol Na, it would have been Tuck,but I don't remember a Bruce. Last year I was pretty overwhelmed with all the jamming and music,so I was mostly in a daze.
