Modern Flight

 
 

It’s a Tuesday evening in early February and I am sitting on the porch of my funky, remote Shackteau in Coral Bay, St. John staring at quickly fading sunset, the illuminated cumulus clouds floating placidly over Tortola, BVI. A pair…

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Dupy & Me or - How I Got My Hand Back

“Oh! I see you have Dupuytren's,” said the old man to me as he stared curiously at my left hand. He took my hand and turned it over, revealing my lumpy palm. “Lay your hand flat on the table,” Frank…

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BuskerBlog - by Ari Jewel - July, 2021

As I write, I’m thinking about “street culture,” and how I could define, or imagine, that phrase. For me, street culture is about the art and connection happening inside museums, music venues, and online, coming out to the sidewalks and…

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The Making of Gypsy Davy

 

     In November 2018 I began recording this, my fourth, studio album. I seem to enter the recording studio, whether I want to or not, about every ten years. I suppose I'm a little late for this one, but I've not…

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Dr. Ea$y's Cigar Box Goes South. Sort of.

 

The other night I was sitting around the wood stove and scrolling through Facebook when I came upon some intriguing posts by Gypsy Elise.  I'd heard of this ballsy, brassy singer from N'awlins who is currently residing with her husband…

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"Digby" Shot; Another Hit for Trumbull Studios?

 

On a recent gloriously Berkshire July morning Marky-T, the Samster and I (along with my dear Claudia who took these photos!) reconnoitered at Doug Trumbull's MAGI studios to begin the filming of our first music video.  Hidden deep in the…

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Trumbull and TamPro to Merge Forces

Movie special effects pioneer Doug Trumbull and TamPro to combine forces?  Looks like it.  For a short while, anyway.  And my mind is totally blown!  Those who've known me awhile have likely suspected something was awry - and now…

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Will Power In the Land O'Goshen

 

 

Will Power in the Land o'Goshen

 

I had occasion to play a Labor Day gig this year with a r&b band called Will Power. They are usually a 5-piece show band outfit that plays in casino settings like Atlantic City,…

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Dr. Ea$y's Sonic Boxes

For almost three years, Dr. Easy has been sneaking down into the woodshop and foolin' around with David's tools and nicking as much of David's decorative wood as he dares to use on his cigar box instruments. Over the years…Read more
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Origins of the Reggae Banjo

 Six string banjoist and self-proclaimed founder of the 'reggae banjo', Banjo Bwoy, attempts to join Bun E. Twinkle's new reggae band. He tries to convince her that her band really needs the wonky new sound of the reggae banjo, but

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Birdbrains

 



THUMP! Scrape. THUMP! Scrape. THUMP! Scrape.


“What in hell?” I murmured as I rolled over and extricated myself from the tender arms of somnolence. I reluctantly blinked at the clock that blinked back at me: 5:15AM. The day, or what…

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Catsup

 
You Guys Are Like Catsup!


May 31, 2011
Last night I crossed paths with a musical colleague who was playing at one of my favorite venues, The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge, MA. Jeff Martell is an ol’ singin’, guitar-slingin’ road-dog…

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