Are You Missing Me – Pete Wernicks Jam Camp – Hal, Rick and Bob

Are You Missing Me by a band destined for the stage at Merle Fest.  That’s the cabin stage with the rest of this sturdy jam camp group.  Hosted by Pete Wernick the final day features the groups that played together during the camp.

 

I owe Pete Wernick a debt of gratitude for the help he provides at these camps.  They are a terrific place learn, jam with folks who play or sing at the same level as you do, and eat and be merry.

 

Pete is now hosting intermediate players at these camps, but folks at all levels are welcome.  This is all laid out on the Dr. Banjo site.

 

Anyhow, Hal, the baritone, Rick the tenor, and Bob the lead had a great time harmonizing.  I can’t sing this high now.  I’ve lowered most of my keys to accommodate my voice and my wife, Cathy, who I wish would come and participate in these camps.  No luck yet.

 

Bob Johnson

 

 

Jams In Tabor City – Thanksgiving Entertainment and Hay Rides

Kettle Creek is the band that I played in at Albert Hall.  Its disbanded now.

Kettle Creek Band at Albert Hall, Waretown, NJ

 

 

 

I have stumbled upon a group of young men who play bluegrass and I’m hoping to do some good picking and singing while here at Yogi Bear Jellystone Campground here in Tabor City.  Jesse Coleman is a family member of the folks who built with the own hands this campground and won the best in the nation award for the Yogi Bear chain. 

 

I can tell you the campground is very nice.  Every pad has a concrete slab and 50 amps and sewer.  The television reception is pretty bad, but we did not come to watch TV and fortunately I get CBS which is the station my Daughter Jennifer’s show – Cold Case – is on.  There are several lakes all stocked with fish, and each lake has a different kind.  There are trails in the woods for bike riding or juiced up golf carts or walking and listening and watching.

 

If you listen real well you might here our banjos, fiddles and mandolin’s and guitars and voices.  Listen real good now, ya hear.

 

There is a group of gospel singers coming this weekend and the campground will be crowded for the Thanksgiving weekend so there might be a chance to do some singing publicly. 

 

And Ric Coleman, who I believe is the owner, asked if our family might get on the hay ride on Thanksgiving and drive through the camp.  I agreed since we will be dressed in costumes – Pilgrims and Indians – and it will be good fun for the Grandkids and the folks who are here.

 

I plan to video the dinner we are planning.

 

May your grass be blue and the wind be always at your back.

 

Would you like to join us?

 

Bob Johnson

Music Jam Jamming with Richie and Leon

Bluegrass Jam today at Richie’s home in Vineland, N.J.

 

 

 

Rich Favretto is the best banjo player in South Jersey.  Leon Werkheiser is a terrific Bass player, and I’m a passable guitar player and singer.  This is the first time we have jammed together in over a year and it was great to be back.

 

I was a little slow getting up to speed; it took 30 minutes to get Fire on the Mountain and Down the Road right.  But we did.  Warm-up is pretty important for the voice, and to get the wrists moving.  Rich said it takes 45 minutes to get up to speed and everyone together and he’s right.

 

We talked about making this a regular jam.  Rich has a barn that can be redone and his kitchen has good acoustics.  We left it to come back next Sunday.

 

There a few songs I’ve got to get down:

 

·        Blue Moon of Kentucky

·        Beautiful Beautiful Brown Eyes

·        Banks of the Ohio, bluegrass style

·        Ashes of Love up tempo

·        Angeline the Baker

·        Down the Road

·        Blue Ridge Mountain Blues

 

It’s good to be doing bluegrass again.  Most of the Jams I attend now include lots of country and folk tunes.