Chris Cloffi. Personal chat, his banjos, his workshop and love for Classic Style - Classic-Banjo2024-03-28T18:05:40Zhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-cloffi-personal-chat-his-banjos-his-workshop-and-love-for-c?xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHey Chris ol' buddy...good to…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1245612017-09-17T23:37:24.467ZTexican65https://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/DowDouthitt
<p>Hey Chris ol' buddy...good to see ya back on here again! Everybody.....Chris is the man I bought the 1890s Morrison from a few years ago...which by-the-way Chris, is in Cat Fox's shop here in Seattle being restored. Finally got her all polished and cleaned proper. It ought to be ready in the next few weeks. </p>
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<p>Everybody, it just so happens that Chris is also one of my friends and luthiers, he is restoring a 1963 Earl Scruggs Vega tubaphone for me currently. He is an amazing…</p>
<p>Hey Chris ol' buddy...good to see ya back on here again! Everybody.....Chris is the man I bought the 1890s Morrison from a few years ago...which by-the-way Chris, is in Cat Fox's shop here in Seattle being restored. Finally got her all polished and cleaned proper. It ought to be ready in the next few weeks. </p>
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<p>Everybody, it just so happens that Chris is also one of my friends and luthiers, he is restoring a 1963 Earl Scruggs Vega tubaphone for me currently. He is an amazing banjo set-up/restoration expert...also with a love for music. He and a woman here in Seattle named Cat are the only people i will allow to work on my banjos. He's a wealth of knowledge and has truly dedicated himself to the 5 string banjo...I'm proud to call him friend. </p>
<p>Dow</p>
<p></p> Oh yes, we always referred to…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1245582017-09-17T21:12:13.614ZJody Stecherhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/JodyStecher
<p>Oh yes, we always referred to the duo as SLOB. I can think of several better current representatives than me but thank you for the compliment. I'm just back from running some errands (actually I was walking) and half way between the grocery and the bank I remembered one pro bluegrass banjo player who did not respond positively to classic playing. It was back in 1990. He found it all "nice and polite" but lacking in drive and forward propulsion. I refrained from rolling my eyes and from…</p>
<p>Oh yes, we always referred to the duo as SLOB. I can think of several better current representatives than me but thank you for the compliment. I'm just back from running some errands (actually I was walking) and half way between the grocery and the bank I remembered one pro bluegrass banjo player who did not respond positively to classic playing. It was back in 1990. He found it all "nice and polite" but lacking in drive and forward propulsion. I refrained from rolling my eyes and from saying "that's like criticizing Florida for its lack of snow." Not all music is supposed to have the characteristics of bluegrass. <br/> <br/> <cite>Chris Cioffi said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-cloffi-personal-chat-his-banjos-his-workshop-and-love-for-c?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A124557&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment124557"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>That's great to hear, Jody....and I can't think of 2 better representatives of classic banjo than you and Bill....(you SLOB's, you).</p>
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<p>I still really like Bill's video of his playing Ragtime Episode on the Cole's Eclipse on youtube.</p>
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<p>Matter of fact, when folks respond with favorable curiosity to my video above, I send them the link to Bills' playing of that as well as your video page here on ning, Jody.</p>
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<p>Folks who haven't heard it before are pretty surprised in a positive way........</p>
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</blockquote> That's great to hear, Jody...…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1245572017-09-17T20:05:08.709ZChris Cioffihttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/ChrisCioffi
<p>That's great to hear, Jody....and I can't think of 2 better representatives of classic banjo than you and Bill....(you SLOB's, you).</p>
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<p>I still really like Bill's video of his playing Ragtime Episode on the Cole's Eclipse on youtube.</p>
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<p>Matter of fact, when folks respond with favorable curiosity to my video above, I send them the link to Bills' playing of that as well as your video page here on ning, Jody.</p>
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<p>Folks who haven't heard it before are…</p>
<p>That's great to hear, Jody....and I can't think of 2 better representatives of classic banjo than you and Bill....(you SLOB's, you).</p>
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<p>I still really like Bill's video of his playing Ragtime Episode on the Cole's Eclipse on youtube.</p>
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<p>Matter of fact, when folks respond with favorable curiosity to my video above, I send them the link to Bills' playing of that as well as your video page here on ning, Jody.</p>
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<p>Folks who haven't heard it before are pretty surprised in a positive way........</p> When Bill Evans and I were to…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1245562017-09-17T19:51:01.537ZJody Stecherhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/JodyStecher
<p>When Bill Evans and I were touring as the Secret Life of Banjos, a good 35% of our program was classic banjo music. This always was well received by the bluegrass banjoists in the audience. The most puzzling reaction we got was from one Southern California player who liked the repertoire and the performance but told us that what we were doing *was* bluegrass banjo playing. The only difference was nylon strings and and a different sort of banjo. He was wrong of course. We did not play roll…</p>
<p>When Bill Evans and I were touring as the Secret Life of Banjos, a good 35% of our program was classic banjo music. This always was well received by the bluegrass banjoists in the audience. The most puzzling reaction we got was from one Southern California player who liked the repertoire and the performance but told us that what we were doing *was* bluegrass banjo playing. The only difference was nylon strings and and a different sort of banjo. He was wrong of course. We did not play roll patterns for one thing, and the melodies we played were not limited by 3 chords and the span of an octave, as most bluegrass *songs* do. (Songs have words. They are different from instrumentals). And there were a good number of other differences. But the reaction was still positive. <br/> <br/> <cite>Chris Cioffi said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-cloffi-personal-chat-his-banjos-his-workshop-and-love-for-c?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A124454&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment124454"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>As far as bluegrass and classic banjo, I do have to say that I was a bit apprehensive about posting the video in the first post, but Russ kept encouraging me to do it.</p>
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<p>It was pretty personal for me, and I didn't know how bluegrass banjo players (most of our video audience) would react.</p>
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<p>I've had quite a bit of really good response from several bluegrass banjo players by email who have been surprised to discover the style and that there is any 5 string banjo connection to England at all...let alone some Britons actually made banjos.</p>
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<p>So...I've been steering these folks to ning, the LOC recordings, British Pathe links, etc...</p>
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<p>As I said in my first post, a lot of folks won't be attracted to or "get" classic banjo, but I am hearing from a few experienced bluegrass players that are, after being exposed to the concepts in the video.</p>
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<p>So far, any bluegrass player that didn't know about classic banjo before, and I show them Tarrant Bailey JR playing "Snakes and Ladders".....well....let's just say that does have a positive effect on them!</p>
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</blockquote> As far as bluegrass and class…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1244542017-09-17T18:55:22.278ZChris Cioffihttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/ChrisCioffi
<p>As far as bluegrass and classic banjo, I do have to say that I was a bit apprehensive about posting the video in the first post, but Russ kept encouraging me to do it.</p>
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<p>It was pretty personal for me, and I didn't know how bluegrass banjo players (most of our video audience) would react.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I've had quite a bit of really good response from several bluegrass banjo players by email who have been surprised to discover the style and that there is any 5 string banjo…</p>
<p>As far as bluegrass and classic banjo, I do have to say that I was a bit apprehensive about posting the video in the first post, but Russ kept encouraging me to do it.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It was pretty personal for me, and I didn't know how bluegrass banjo players (most of our video audience) would react.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I've had quite a bit of really good response from several bluegrass banjo players by email who have been surprised to discover the style and that there is any 5 string banjo connection to England at all...let alone some Britons actually made banjos.</p>
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<p>So...I've been steering these folks to ning, the LOC recordings, British Pathe links, etc...</p>
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<p>As I said in my first post, a lot of folks won't be attracted to or "get" classic banjo, but I am hearing from a few experienced bluegrass players that are, after being exposed to the concepts in the video.</p>
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<p>So far, any bluegrass player that didn't know about classic banjo before, and I show them Tarrant Bailey JR playing "Snakes and Ladders".....well....let's just say that does have a positive effect on them!</p>
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<p></p> You explained it as I already…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1244532017-09-17T18:55:18.689ZJody Stecherhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/JodyStecher
<p>You explained it as I already understood it. The implication is that classic style is superior. Well it is.... in certain ways. In other ways it is not. Anyway, it's a small thing. I decided when I first joined this forum that when anyone wrote something denigrating another style as a means of making classic style seem better by comparison, that I would present the actual facts and boringly, predictably, annoyingly repeat my view that denigrating another tribe is not an effective way of…</p>
<p>You explained it as I already understood it. The implication is that classic style is superior. Well it is.... in certain ways. In other ways it is not. Anyway, it's a small thing. I decided when I first joined this forum that when anyone wrote something denigrating another style as a means of making classic style seem better by comparison, that I would present the actual facts and boringly, predictably, annoyingly repeat my view that denigrating another tribe is not an effective way of promoting one's own. Maybe I should retire from that job. I'd rather not be a bore.<br/> <br/> <cite>thereallyniceman said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-cloffi-personal-chat-his-banjos-his-workshop-and-love-for-c?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A124555&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment124555"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Read it again Jody:</p>
<p><em>"They sound amazing, if a little let down by playing bluegrass "-) How's about a bit of Classic Style, eh Chris?"</em></p>
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<p><span>Let down because they were not playing Classic Style.</span></p>
<p><span> Jokes always lose something when you have to explain them, don't they?</span></p>
<p><span>:-)))))))</span></p>
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</blockquote> You have too much faith in me…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1246532017-09-17T18:46:12.550ZChris Cioffihttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/ChrisCioffi
<p>You have too much faith in me, Ian....I'm too shy and not "on my classic banjo legs" enough just yet.....I've got to get a bit better before I should play classic banjo in public just yet.....at least for everyone else's sake!</p>
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<p>Jody has really helped me with insights and advice and info on St. Louis Tickle, and really I suppose it was a bit of too much to bite off for my abilities when I started on it as a classic player, but I just figured I was advanced enough at bluegrass…</p>
<p>You have too much faith in me, Ian....I'm too shy and not "on my classic banjo legs" enough just yet.....I've got to get a bit better before I should play classic banjo in public just yet.....at least for everyone else's sake!</p>
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<p>Jody has really helped me with insights and advice and info on St. Louis Tickle, and really I suppose it was a bit of too much to bite off for my abilities when I started on it as a classic player, but I just figured I was advanced enough at bluegrass that I could do it.....</p>
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<p>...the rub is the right feel and attack and delivery in the classic style.....and of course, trying to learn treble clef fast enough to read at my practice playing speed....I used to play trombone, so I knew bass clef, and had worked on treble clef enough learning fiddle tunes on bluegrass banjo, but I think with classic banjo, as Jody encouraged me to continue pursuing, I'm trying hard to bring my reading speed skills up along with the right hand consistency at the same time instead of cheating one or the other along the way. The hope is of course a longer time to fruition, but hopefully, a more solid result for both abilities in the end.</p>
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<p>I'm still working on any sort of day to day consistency with a good classic style barefingered right hand touch and delivery yet......</p>
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<p>But hopefully, it's coming with more practice.....!</p>
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<p></p> Read it again Jody:
"They sou…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1245552017-09-17T18:34:24.500Zthereallynicemanhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/thereallyniceman
<p>Read it again Jody:</p>
<p><em>"They sound amazing, if a little let down by playing bluegrass "-) How's about a bit of Classic Style, eh Chris?"</em></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Let down because they were not playing Classic Style.</span></p>
<p><span> Jokes always lose something when you have to explain them, don't they?</span></p>
<p><span>:-)))))))</span></p>
<p>Read it again Jody:</p>
<p><em>"They sound amazing, if a little let down by playing bluegrass "-) How's about a bit of Classic Style, eh Chris?"</em></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Let down because they were not playing Classic Style.</span></p>
<p><span> Jokes always lose something when you have to explain them, don't they?</span></p>
<p><span>:-)))))))</span></p> I did spot it, but I don't se…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1246522017-09-17T18:28:33.085ZJody Stecherhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/JodyStecher
<p>I did spot it, but I don't see the humor. Bad bluegrass banjo players are already doing a bang up job of reinforcing stereotypes and don't need help. <br></br> <br></br> <cite>thereallyniceman said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-cloffi-personal-chat-his-banjos-his-workshop-and-love-for-c?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A124554&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment124450"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Perhaps nobody spotted the: …</p>
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<p>I did spot it, but I don't see the humor. Bad bluegrass banjo players are already doing a bang up job of reinforcing stereotypes and don't need help. <br/> <br/> <cite>thereallyniceman said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-cloffi-personal-chat-his-banjos-his-workshop-and-love-for-c?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A124554&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment124450"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Perhaps nobody spotted the: <span> "-) </span></p>
<p><span>Joshing, arf arf arf !</span></p>
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</blockquote> Perhaps nobody spotted the: …tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-09-17:2667446:Comment:1244502017-09-17T17:13:26.008Zthereallynicemanhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/thereallyniceman
<p>Perhaps nobody spotted the: <span> "-) </span></p>
<p><span>Joshing, arf arf arf !</span></p>
<p>Perhaps nobody spotted the: <span> "-) </span></p>
<p><span>Joshing, arf arf arf !</span></p>