This week, Ozark original old-time fiddler, banjo maker and legendary fiddle tune collector Banjo Billy Mathews recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas.  Dave Smith is joined in hosting this week by expert musicologist and Banjo Billy’s most prolific protege, Emily Lawless.

Billy Mathews is known far and wide across this land for his musical skill and old time fiddling ability.  He has traveled extensively throughout the Midwest for over 40 years.  Thoughtful musical kinships, maintained throughout these many years, have earned him a considerable amount of notoriety and recognition in Old Time music circles.  True to his name, Billy continues to play and record a vast amount of Old Time Clawhammer Banjo tunes.  Billy has released a recording of Original Banjo Tunes, The Ghost of Banjo Billy.  Billy still resides in the Ozark Mountains, continuing work on music projects.  Billy keeps busy by traveling throughout the country for workshops, concerts and other special events, playing his huge repertoire of old time fiddle and banjo tunes.  Billy has literally become the embodiment of his Scot-Irish ancestors by continuing their traditional approach to life.  Billy continues to collect and play a huge repertoire of old-time fiddle tunes.  He has already made a sizeable and significant contribution to our American musical culture and there is no end in sight!  Billy has shared the stage with such noteworthy musicians as Joe Burke, John Koener, John Hartford, The Fiddle Puppets, Mike Seeger, De Dannan, Bill Monroe and more!  - http://www.banjobilly.net/about-us/  

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1974 archival recording of Ozark original Larry Poff performing the tune “900 Miles,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins examines the gradual disappearance of traditional Ozarkian language in the modern Ozark region through the lens of his friendship and conversations with Ozark scholar Dr. Audrey Thompson.

Ozark Highlands Radio

OHR Presents: Banjo Billy Mathews

I have the privilege of participating in a Blues Workshop presented by Bing Futch at the Ohio Valley Gathering 2015.  Bing and I are playing an example of 12-Bar Blues.

Blues With Bing

From my new album "Unresolved Blues", this tune was inspired by no-one in particular, but we all know them well.

Listen Closely Mama - Mountain Dulcimer Blues

From my 2013 album "Dive!", this song deals with the walls that we put up to protect ourselves.

I Keep My Distance - Alternative Mountain Dulcimer

Fallen Angel - EDM Native American Flute

Earth Mother - Native American Flute

The Last Of The Mohicans - Mountain Dulcimer

New Year's Night - Mountain Dulcimer

Lutung bingung is one of repertoar music degung classic that adapting from "Lutung Kasarung" story, part of the story taken when Guruminda become a Lutung down to earth, and when he (lutung) come to earth, like confused about that a new place.

In this song, Parahyena is not alone. We are assisted by a guitarist who usually plays classic degung tones, namely Agus Rukmana. He has been exploring, developing and making innovative classic Sundanese tones on classical guitars. Agus Rukmana has also made a recording of souvenirs to 120 countries at the 50th Asia-Africa Summit, at this moment he is devising a method of learning 'ngadegung ku guitar' (playing degung by guitar) and making recordings. 

The playing patterns of music performed by Parahyena and Agus Rukmana, Lutung Bingung song are transformed from pelog and gamelan patterns, but the fingering style technique uses modulation to western conventional chord. In practice, the song is cultivated and recorded live. Audio and visual capture is important, so in this song selected live session for the launch of Parahyena’s new single. 

Lutung Bingung is a collaboration of various types of art that we feel interesting to combine, as for the wayang (Dalang), Arts Dance, and mapping. Great hope this song is acceptable to all circles, especially people outside tatar sunda. Parahyena and Agus Rukmana want to introduce this technique as a Sunda tone game, and this technique can be applied to any musical instrument. 

New single "Lutung Bingung" already be enjoyed on Parahyena Youtube Channel www.youtube.com/parahyena

Lutung Bingung Feat. Agus Roekmana

All instruments and vocals by Winter Walker. This was a total blast.

FUTURE TENSE (cover)

Winter Singing Pop Medley

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews, recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas.  In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners on a musical journey with historians, authors, and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region.

OHR Presents: Banjo Billy Mathews

Ozark Highlands Radio

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