The great man himself. Benny was the best. These were recorded long past his prime. But The smoothness and unique interpretations and his smile are immortal. Lucky to have been in his presence couple times in the 70s.
We will all get passed our prime someday and we fiddlers and pickers will lose a step or two with our intonation, clarity, smoothness, etc. But if the music does not leave our hearts we will not lose the sound of soul when we play. Benny always had soul to spare until the time he left us. And his recordings will live forever.
I will always be glad to help others to discover the fiddling of Dick Barrett. My mom learned from him personally in her formative years as a fiddler in the late 1970's and she collected his superb series of albums. I listen to those recordings to this day and I still marvel at his technique. Dick's style is distinct, singular, and instantly recognizable. His voice on the instrument had gravitas. His timing was metronomic. He had that rare ability to manifest power and volume without speed and he made it look and sound effortless. Tracking down his recordings is not easy, but not impossible. For a taste people can visit the Texas Fiddle Archive and download the 2013 post of Dick jamming in Weiser in 1982. Free.
You're most welcome, Ben. Glad you found it. Just two fiddlers out of many who were shamefully under documented as far as film or video is concerned. And just in case you were not aware, you can view the entire program from which this particular video was taken in the Playlist section of the Joy of Fiddling channel. Here's a direct link: ua-cam.com/play/PL-7sGqQweHSgBC-eyM-x9xK_203VWKgPs.html
Dick and Benny put on several clinics in Washington State, together. This is the only professionally produced video of them together, that I know of. Unfortunately, Yazoo released these videos on the internet without the consent of Dick and Benny, and profited from their artistry without paying them a nickel. So, while you're enjoying them, just understand that some dipstick made a buck off these men without fair compensation, and still is today.
Wouldn't that be something, Shlomo? Some time back in the 1980's Benny was awarded "Best Liked Fiddler" at the Nationals in Wieser, Idaho. He was emotional at the microphone when he received the honor and said that it meant more to him than all the other awards he had ever won. He set a remarkable example, not only as a fiddler, but as a person who always exercised kindness, humility, and generosity. I miss him dearly.
interesting to see Benny playing. one can see similar technical features of Mark O'Connor's playing in his teens - the high right elbow and fluid wrist, and the economy of motion in the fingers of the left hand.
Great observation, Kelamuni. No doubt about it as Mark himself has stated numerous times over the years how much he owes to Benny's generous mentoring.
I toured the world with Mark in the 80’s. (There are UA-cam vids of me playing behind him.) Mark said that the secret to Texas style fiddling, per Benny Thomason , was to know the melody - and then “to round it out. “ Makes perfect sense.
That arm/ wrist is really something. I wouldn't say the wrist is fluid, but both it and the hand seem very relaxed. It seems like the motion comes right from the shoulder. I'm probably wrong. I'd love to see a discussion on the bowing action here!
The great man himself. Benny was the best. These were recorded long past his prime. But The smoothness and unique interpretations and his smile are immortal. Lucky to have been in his presence couple times in the 70s.
We will all get passed our prime someday and we fiddlers and pickers will lose a step or two with our intonation, clarity, smoothness, etc. But if the music does not leave our hearts we will not lose the sound of soul when we play. Benny always had soul to spare until the time he left us. And his recordings will live forever.
This was a fun tour ...I m playing the guitar on these videos ...
@aaron lowe....this is the Joy of Fiddling channel...we posted these videos...we know who you are....😂 since I was a kid!
This is fantastic. I've heard recordings of the great Benny Thomasson before, but Mr. Barrett's playing is a revelation. Thank you for posting this!
I will always be glad to help others to discover the fiddling of Dick Barrett. My mom learned from him personally in her formative years as a fiddler in the late 1970's and she collected his superb series of albums. I listen to those recordings to this day and I still marvel at his technique. Dick's style is distinct, singular, and instantly recognizable. His voice on the instrument had gravitas. His timing was metronomic. He had that rare ability to manifest power and volume without speed and he made it look and sound effortless. Tracking down his recordings is not easy, but not impossible. For a taste people can visit the Texas Fiddle Archive and download the 2013 post of Dick jamming in Weiser in 1982. Free.
That's some amazing fiddle there. Love it.
I've never seen any footage of Benny or Dick playing. Thanks for posting this.
You're most welcome, Ben. Glad you found it. Just two fiddlers out of many who were shamefully under documented as far as film or video is concerned. And just in case you were not aware, you can view the entire program from which this particular video was taken in the Playlist section of the Joy of Fiddling channel.
Here's a direct link: ua-cam.com/play/PL-7sGqQweHSgBC-eyM-x9xK_203VWKgPs.html
Dick and Benny put on several clinics in Washington State, together. This is the only professionally produced video of them together, that I know of. Unfortunately, Yazoo released these videos on the internet without the consent of Dick and Benny, and profited from their artistry without paying them a nickel. So, while you're enjoying them, just understand that some dipstick made a buck off these men without fair compensation, and still is today.
Wishing I had Benny as my neighbor...
Wouldn't that be something, Shlomo? Some time back in the 1980's Benny was awarded "Best Liked Fiddler" at the Nationals in Wieser, Idaho. He was emotional at the microphone when he received the honor and said that it meant more to him than all the other awards he had ever won. He set a remarkable example, not only as a fiddler, but as a person who always exercised kindness, humility, and generosity. I miss him dearly.
interesting to see Benny playing. one can see similar technical features of Mark O'Connor's playing in his teens - the high right elbow and fluid wrist, and the economy of motion in the fingers of the left hand.
Great observation, Kelamuni. No doubt about it as Mark himself has stated numerous times over the years how much he owes to Benny's generous mentoring.
I toured the world with Mark in the 80’s. (There are UA-cam vids of me playing behind him.) Mark said that the secret to Texas style fiddling, per Benny Thomason , was to know the melody - and then “to round it out. “
Makes perfect sense.
That arm/ wrist is really something. I wouldn't say the wrist is fluid, but both it and the hand seem very relaxed. It seems like the motion comes right from the shoulder. I'm probably wrong. I'd love to see a discussion on the bowing action here!