A Woman's Pace is owned and operated by Beverly residents Moira Borkevec and Anne Gulley along with their mother Mary Ann Sullivan. We are very excited to have them as our new neighbor. Why don't stop in sometime to say hello and check out their equipment. Moira and Anne will be happy to go over the program with you. Their phone number is 773-238-7707. They are located just a few doors west of us next to the Agape Shop.
Do you like the sound of acoustic music? Do you play or listen to Celtic, Folk or the Blues? Bluegrass music is a great combination and extension of these kinds of music and more. Everyone is familiar with the "Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song" or "Dueling Banjos", but Bluegrass music is much more than that. Many people are not familiar with Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass music, who coined the term with his band "Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys". He was a hard hitting mandolin player who sang high harmonies giving him that high lonesome sound. Most Bluegrass bands pay homage to his songs one way or another. There are many other first and second generation Bluegrass players that express that same sound. These bands include Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Sam and Jesse McReynolds, Jimmy Martin, Ralph Stanley and the Stanley Brothers and many more. The next generation of Bluegrass musicians, calling it
Newgrass, mixed in forms of blues or jazz. Bands like the Newgrass Revival gave rise to innovative musicians like Bela Fleck, Sam Bush and Tim
O'Brian. Some of my favorite styles are that of guitarist Tony Rice, mandolinist David
Grisman, founder of Dowg Music, his own brand of Bluegrass, Jazz, Funk, Irish Rhythms, etc…(highly recommended).
Some great Bluegrass music is taught right here at the World Folk Music Company. I teach guitar and
mandolin along with Dave Dalessandro who teaches fiddle and bass as
well. And, last but surely not least,
Greg Cahill, who is one of the best banjo players anywhere today. His phenomenal band
Special Consensus, often performs here at WFMC. Their new CD "Special Consensus - 25th Anniversary" is available in the store.
My list of other Favorite Bluegrass/Newgrass CD's:
The Essential Bill Monroe
Frank Wakefield with Red Allen
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Live at Vanderbuilt University
Tony Rice and Norman Blake
Old And In The Way
Kentucky Colonels, Driving In The Past
Doc and Merle Watson, Alive and Picking
Hot Rize (self titled CD)
Steve Haberichter
Steve Haberichter and Dave Dalessandro can be seen on most Tuesday evenings during the summer at Keegan's Pub, 10618 S. Western Avenue.
David James leads his Irish Music Session Class in a lively set of tunes.
Irish music instructor
David James has been working with a group of our students teaching them the fine tradition of session playing. Irish sessions are a time honored tradition of group playing that takes place anytime Irish musicians gather together in homes, pubs and festivals. In the Chicago area one can hear a session any night of the week in several area pubs. One of the most famous sessions in Chicago took place at the
6511 Club on south Kedzie Avenue for many years. Many of the same musicians who played at that session can be seen the first Sunday of every month at the Lannigan's Pub session on 111th Street in Mount Greenwood.
Our students are working toward an appearance at Celtic Fest Chicago this coming September. They will be teaming up with a group of youngsters from the Irish American Heritage Center on the city's North Side. Noel Rice, the centers instructor, thought it would be a wonderful idea to get the young musicians together and let them experience this great tradition first hand.
Celtic Fest Chicago is attended by thousands of Irish Music fans each year in Grant Park. They will be doing a performance in our concert hall soon. Stay
tuned.