Comment by thereallyniceman on August 25, 2012 at 7:17

Very good indeed! It is excellent to see watch your orchestra perform. It all sounds extremely professional. Congratulations to all the superb players and thank you for posting the concert.

ps Rob, reconsider what you told me by email !!

Comment by Rob MacKillop on August 25, 2012 at 8:14

No, I've had enough. Sorry folks, but I'm hanging up my banjo boots. This is the last video and gig. I'm really proud of my students, going from complete beginners to playing concerts for paid customers within two years. But I've gone as far as I can with it, and am heading back to guitar playing. Hopefully the members of the band will find a way of playing together, and it would be good for them to develop solo playing too. But they will have to do it without me, as I won't teach what I don't play.

I have already sold a few banjos, and have this Stefanelli banjo and a Jim Hartel fretless still in my possession. I'll keep the fretless, but might consider offers for the magnificent Stefanelli - not because I want to sell it, but because a banjo this good deserves to be played regularly. I've never come across a better banjo.

Life is short, becoming shorter every day, and I have a lot of music I want to experience before I go. I brought my own voice to the banjo, for better or worse, and really loved discovering what for me was a completely unknown world. I've done my best to share it with others, but now I'm asking myself, "What else is out there?"...

Comment by Mike Redman on August 25, 2012 at 9:10

Excellent Rob, superb playing by the Orchestra, just a shame you have decided to hang up the banjo.  Perhaps one day you may return to playing the banjo as William J Ball did when he gave up the banjo in favour of the piano, his first instrument.  In the mean time a big thank you for sharing your musical talent with the banjo world over the years.

Comment by Alan Sims on August 25, 2012 at 9:54

wonderfull music.so much talent in one place at one time. good luck in the future.

Comment by Rob MacKillop on August 25, 2012 at 15:58

Thanks, guys. Appreciated.

Comment by marc dalmasso on August 26, 2012 at 10:40

all the vidéos are excellent ; And a special " bravo les filles " for the girls .

Unfortunatly , éric_made ' banjos' s self-destruct themselves when they got the 2nd owner . I am afraid you have to  keep it  & playing

Comment by Richard William Ineson on August 26, 2012 at 11:09

'What else is out there' is a question that keeps crossing my mind too. I have enjoyed Rob's brief sojourn with us in Banjoland, and he has certainly given me food for thought; I have enjoyed listening to him play the banjo and these latest videos are delight to the ear and the eye. However, life must go on, as they say, and those of us left behind must endeavour to fill the gap. Don't forget to make the effort to call in at Backwell, near Bristol, on the 8th September, for the 21st year of banjo music, at this venue, and where you will discover another load of musical talent in one place.

Comment by Trevor Boyd on August 26, 2012 at 18:24

I think it's a great shame that Rob is moving on from the banjo, since he is responsible for my interest in classic banjo.  I was browsing some ukulele  stuff on his website and came across his classic banjo page.  I had tried - and not got on with - bluegrass banjo many years ago, but when I saw and heard Rob playing classic banjo on a nylon-strung instrument I was intrigued (as well as impressed) and decided to follow it up.  So if you read this Rob, many thanks for the inspiration and good luck in whatever you do.

Trevor

Comment by Rob MacKillop on August 26, 2012 at 18:52

Thanks, Trevor. Very much appreciated!

Comment by Mike Moss on August 27, 2012 at 8:59

Very nice ensemble playing, the instruments blended seamlessly unlike in some other banjo orchestras I've listened to. Very enjoyable!

Add a Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page