Ken Perlman is a pioneer of the 5-string banjo style known as melodic clawhammer; he is considered one of today’s top clawhammer players, known in particular for his skillful adaptations of Celtic, Appalachian, & Canadian fiddle tunes to the style.
As well as touring throughout most of the English-speaking world, Ken is a recording artist, a banjo camp director, and author of multiple widely used banjo instructional books.
His latest recording is called Frails & Frolics, while his latest instruction book is named Appalachian Fiddle Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo (Mel Bay Publications)
For more, go to www.kenperlman.com
DEERING LIVE
Deering Live is a live stream video series presented by Deering Banjos which features interviews with all your favorite banjo players, as well as Deering Tech sessions and other great content. Catch up on all the episodes of Deering Live, right here.
5-string banjo master Ryan Cavanaugh returns to Deering Live this week! In this episode, we will explore how to comp chords for 20th-century American music styles other than bluegrass.
Ryan will show you examples of how to voice chords on the 5-string banjo for styles such as traditional New Orleans jazz, swing, bebop, modal jazz, funk, and rock & roll.
UPCOMING EPISODES
Ryan Cavanaugh - chord voicings for genres outside of bluegrass
Thursday, January 27th at 6pm ET
Victor Furtado
Thursday, February 3rd at 7pm ET
Tony Furtado
Wednesday, February 16th at 6pm ET
PAST EPISODES
JANUARY 2022
KEN PERLMAN
DECEMBER 2021
BEN WRIGHT of the HENHOUSE PROWLERS
Ben Wright is a founding member of the Henhouse Prowlers, taking the band on the road for more than 15 years and proudly leading Chicago’s robust bluegrass scene.
The Prowlers have recorded 8 albums and tour relentlessly, having garnered a large following across the planet. The band blends their own original material with songs written in multiple languages, learned from their extensive travels.
In 2013, the Henhouse Prowlers began working with the US State Department as musical diplomats, to date they have traveled to more than 25 countries. During these tours, Ben started to see the opportunities for education and diplomacy at home were just as valuable as the international exchanges, inspiring him (and his business partner Jon Goldfine) to start the 501(c)3 non-profit Bluegrass Ambassadors.
The band now works through this entity to bring cross-cultural music education to children in low-income schools, college students in universities, and festival attendees; striving to remind people that diplomacy isn’t just for diplomats; blending global folk music traditions with cultural awareness and understanding.
BOB TAYLOR with GREG & JANET DEERING
This week on Deerling Live, we are joined by Bob Taylor, co-founder of Taylor Guitars. Greg Deering and Bob Taylor have known each other since the late 1960's when they were both key members of the American Dream cooperative - a collection of musical instruments repair specialists and builders here in San Diego.
In this episode, we sat down with Bob Taylor, Greg Deering, and Janet Deering to learn about the remarkable story of two of the worlds most respected names in stringed musical instruments today.
NOVEMBER 2021
JOHN BULLARD
This week on Deering Live we are happy to have classical banjoist, John Bullard. John is a classically trained musician and has published several books including Bach For Banjo. Come listen to him play and share in a transformative revelation: to experience the artistic marriage of banjo and classical music.
MIKE MUNFORD
We are excited to feature bluegrass banjoist Mike Munford on Deering Live this week. Mike is a past IBMA Banjo Player of the Year winner and currently plays with the Grammy Nominated band Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. Besides being one of the top banjoists on the scene today, Mike is also a very highly regarded banjo setup technician so listen to us discuss some setup tips as well.
ASK US ANYTHING
This week on Deering Live, we are giving you the chance to ask questions to our panel of guests from Deering. Ask anything to CEO Jamie Deering, COO Jamie Latty, and Master Builder Chad Kopotic. They are ready (and slightly nervous) for your questions! Anything about the company, the banjos, maintenance, and them as people. Favorite foods, musical tastes, hobbies, sports teams...almost anything goes
OCTOBER 2021
ANDY THORN
We are excited to feature progressive banjoist Andy Thorn of Leftover Salmon to Deering Live this week. Andy is a killer player who continues to push the banjo envelope. Hailing from North Carolina, Andy honed his skills in scene that included players such as Ryan Cavanaugh and Rex McGee. In time, Andy moved out to Colorado and waded deep into the Colorado jamgrass scene, eventually landing the banjo chair in Leftover Salmon which he has held for over a decade. This is sure to be a fun and inspiring show.
BENNETT SULLIVAN
Bennett Sullivan is a fantastic banjo player, teacher, and songwriter who is always pushing to create something new and interesting. No matter what direction Bennett goes, it is always done on a very high level. Join us for what was a fantastic Deering Live episode.
JAKE SCHEPPS
Banjo renaissance man Jake Schepps is an artist with not only an adroit touch on his instrument but an intrepid, imaginative vision for contemporary string band music. Jake has his hands in many banjo and bluegrass related projects such as the Banjo Summit, the upcoming tab book for the recently released bluegrass album by Bela Fleck, "My Bluegrass Heart", and much more.
STEVE MARTIN BANJO PRIZE
This week, join us for a very special episode of Deering Live as we reveal the 2021 Steve Martin Banjo Prize winners. In partnership with the Freshgrass Foundation and Compass Records.
SEPTEMBER 2021
BILL EVANS
Bill Evans is an internationally recognized five-string banjo life force. As a performer, teacher, writer and composer, he brings a deep knowledge, intense virtuosity and contagious passion to all things banjo, with thousands of music fans and banjo students from all over the world in a music career that now spans over thirty-five years. Join us to hear him play, tell some stories, and give some banjo playing tips!
CLINTON DAVIS
Clinton Davis is a 5th generation Kentuckian, now based in San Diego. He is a master old-time banjo player and long-time friend of Deering. His work has been described by many as carrying the torch of traditional American Music. An accomplished fiddle, guitar, mandolin and piano player, Davis recently released his new album "If I Live and I Don’t Get Killed” on Tiki Parlour Recordings.
Today, Clint will play us a selection of tunes from the album, and chat a little about his banjo journey so far.
Checkout Clinton at: clintonrossdavis.bandcamp.com
GINA FURTADO
Gina is an incredible banjoist and a two time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year nominee! After winning numerous awards from many fiddler's conventions up and down the East coast, Gina went on to spend 4 years with Chris Jones & The Night Drivers before releasing music with her own band The Gina Furtado Project.
Gina is a first class banjo player, mastering a multitude of styles and making her one of the most sought after instructors at banjo camps across the US.
Check out Gina by visiting ginafurtadobanjo.com
AUGUST 2021
BB BOWNESS
We're very excited to feature BB on Deering Live. BB was one of the 2020 Steve Martin Banjo prize winners. She hails from New Zealand and currently live in Cambridge, MA. The band she currently plays with is Mile Twelve, and they have won numerous IBMA awards including 2020 New Artists of the Year and 2017 Momentum Band of the Year.
Watch this episode to catch one of the top young enthusiastic banjoists on the scene today!
STEPHEN WADE
We are excited to feature musician and author Stephen Wade to Deering Live this week. Stephen is a true scholar of American folk music, having written the critically acclaimed book on American field recordings, The Beautiful Music All Around Us. Wade, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, is also a critically acclaimed playwright most known for his hit one-man show Banjo Dancing.
JULY 2021
TONY TRISCHKA
This week we team up with our good friend Tony Trischka. Tony is a Deering artist, as well as a long-time ArtistWorks banjo tutor. In this episode, we delve deep into Tony's current album, "Shall We Hope". We will also talk about the ArtistWorks platform and how it can help you become a better banjo player.
RILEY BAUGUS
This week on Deering Live we welcome master old-time banjoist Riley Baugus. Riley plays in the Round Peak style which is a style that comes from his home county in North Carolina, Surry County. Riley has recorded with Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, Alison Kraus, and many more. He also sang on the Academy Award-nominated soundtrack for the movie Cold Mountain.
JUNE 2021
WES CORBETT
In this episode we welcome bluegrass rising star and banjo player for the Sam Bush Band, Wes Corbett to Deering Live. As a founding member of the popular American roots string band, 'Joy Kills Sorrow', and a former instructor at the Berklee School of Music, Wes brings with him a huge depth of musical background and experience to share with the world.
GREG CAHILL
We welcome our friend, and bluegrass legend Greg Cahill to Deering Live this week. After founding The Special Consensus in 1975, Greg has blazed a bright trail of banjo playing for over 45 years.
JIGJAM
JigJam are a multi-award-winning quartet from Ireland. Blending the best of traditional Irish music with Bluegrass and Americana in a new genre which has been branded as ‘I-Grass’ (Irish influenced Bluegrass), their onstage energy along with their virtuosic musical ability has captivated audiences throughout the world.
MAY 2021
NORA BROWN
If you haven't heard Nora Brown, then be sure to take a listen to her this week. Nora is only 15 years old but she is an old soul who plays old time banjo with an incredible feel. Nora started learning music at the age of 6, specializing in old-time and traditional banjo music. She plays with a level of confidence rarely found in most adults, all the while weaving together stories of music history into her performances to create a beautifully rich tapestry for the listener. She has played at numerous venues and festivals on the East Coast and has been featured on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts and TED Talks.
BRUCE MOLSKY
We are honored to feature Bruce Molsky on Deering Live. Bruce is a true master of old time Appalachian music. He is equally strong on both the banjo and the fiddle and has received high praise from diverse fans and collaborators like Linda Ronstadt, Mark Knopfler, Celtic giants Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and dobro master Jerry Douglas.
WE BANJO 3
Don is a master of traditional New Orleans jazz on the tenor banjo. He is an incredible entertainer and a great storyteller and educator. Watch this episode to learn from one of the very best in traditional New Orleans jazz.
DON VAPPIE
Don is a master of traditional New Orleans jazz on the tenor banjo. He is an incredible entertainer and a great storyteller and educator. Watch this episode to learn from one of the very best in traditional New Orleans jazz.
APRIL 2021
CINDY & TERRY BAUCOM
We are very excited to welcome Terry and Cindy Baucom to Deering Live, just a few days after the 42nd anniversary of the formation of the original Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver!
NED LUBERECKI
Ned Luberecki is an award-winning banjo player, Sirius XM radio host on The Bluegrass Junction, and a highly respected banjo teacher. Join us as we talk with one of the best in bluegrass!
TONY TRISCHKA
Tony is made his 2nd appearance on Deering Live to talk about his new album Shall We Hope, play a few tunes, and answer your banjo questions in the live chat.
MARCH 2021
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH
This week we are joined by Sweden's very own Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth. As former frontman for Indie band Montezumas, Kristian plays banjo, guitar, piano, and has delivered his energetic performances to stages around the world since embarking on a solo career in 2006.
MIC PLACEMENT FOR RECORDING BANJO
This week we are joined by our good friends John Jennings (Vice President, Royer Labs Microphones) and Matt Coles (Engineer, Compass Sound Studio) to discuss mics, mic placements and to announce the launch of some very cool collaborative videos.
FEBRUARY 2021
SEVA VENET
Seva has traveled the world with a who's who of New Orleans traditional jazz musicians and plays the 6-string banjo in the style of the great Danny Barker. He is also a historian of the banjo in New Orleans music. Listen to Seva play and talk about the tradition of the banjo in New Orleans music.
PETE WERNICK
Pete Wernick is renowned worldwide for his contributions to bluegrass music: the hot-picking force in several trend-setting bands including Hot Rize, respected author and teacher, songwriter, and long-term President of the International Bluegrass Music Association.
ALISON BROWN
Alison Brown is acclaimed as one of today’s finest progressive banjo players, and you would be just as likely to find her leading a jazz ensemble, or playing celtic music, as you would in a bluegrass setting. Alison is also a cofounder of Compass Records. We are honored to have Alison with us on Deering Live.
JANUARY 2021
RHIANNON GIDDENS
We are very excited to feature Rhiannon Giddens on Deering Live. Rhiannon has been a longtime Deering banjo artist and was a founding member of the Grammy Award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. She since has forged a very successful solo career. Her latest album "There Is No Other" featuring Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi was produced by iconic producer Joe Henry and is an astounding work.
KEVIN NEALON & BRIAN KESINGER
Actor Kevin Nealon (SNL, Weeds, The Wedding Singer) joins leading movie illustrator and animator Brian Kesinger (Wreck-It-Ralph, Frozen 2, Tarzan) to talk about their banjo journeys, their love of art and how these creative worlds can compliment each other.
This episode was for Deering Live @ NAMM Believe In Music Week.
VERSATILITY OF THE 6-STRING BANJO
Learn how to utilize a 6-string banjo in a multitude of settings in this workshop with master session guitarist Brad Davis. Brad was a member of Marty Stuart’s band for over a decade and has also performed with Earl Scruggs, Sam Bush, Billy Bob Thornton, and many others. Brad will show you techniques to make the 6-string banjo sound like a 5-string banjo, fingerpicking techniques, flatpicking techniques, and more.
This episode was for Deering Live @ NAMM Believe In Music Week.
BANJO ANATOMY WITH CHAD KOPOTIC
Ever wondered what goes into a banjo? The answer is “a lot”. Join Deering VP Operations, Chad Kopotic as he completely disassembles and reassembles a Deering Banjo, live, while talking us through all the parts, and how they contribute to the banjos iconic sound.
This episode was for Deering Live @ NAMM Believe In Music Week.
DECEMBER 2020
DEERING LIVE END OF YEAR SPECIAL
This week we aired the last Deering Live of 2020, where we sat down with Greg, Janet, and Jamie Deering, as we finally take a second to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable year. Joining us as well on the call were Jens Kruger, Kevin Nealon, David Holt, Ryan Cavanaugh, Nefesh Mountain, Kristin Scott Benson, Tony Trischka, Tray Wellington, Hank Smith, Jeff DaRosa, John Kavanaugh, and Eric Gibson.
This was a great episode of stories and a chance to bring a snapshot of our banjo community coming together.
JENS KRUGER MASTERCLASS ANNOUNCEMENT
This week we welcome back Jens Kruger to Deering Live to talk about his new Intermediate/Advanced Masterclass that we will be launching in January. Tune in to learn about it and ask questions/give feedback on what you would like to see covered in these classes.
CHRIS COOLE
This week we are excited to talk with and listen to renowned clawhammer banjoist and songwriter Chris Coole. Chris Coole got his first banjo when he was 17 years old after falling in love with the sounds of folk and early country music. Today, Chris is known internationally for his clawhammer banjo style, songwriting, and singing.
NOVEMBER 2020
TRAY WELLINGTON
This week we talk with banjoist Tray Wellington. Growing up on Flint Hill Rd, It was destined for musician Trajan “Tray” Wellington to be attracted to the 5 String Banjo. From learning traditional bluegrass to learning other genres, Tray has gone on to play with some of the best musicians in the world and won many awards and accolades.
KAVANJO PICKUPS
This week we will be digging deep into the world of banjo pickups with John Kavanaugh of Kavanjo Pickups. Learn everything you need to know about different types of banjo pickups. How they work. How they are made. How to plug them in and get the best sound out of your banjo and more!
OCTOBER 2020
GRAHAM SHARP
We are joined in this episode of Deering Live by Steep Canyon Rangers banjo picker, Graham Sharp who is spending some time with us to talk about (and play) banjo, the new Rangers album and playing with a guy named Steve!
KRISTIN SCOTT BENSON
This week, we welcome Kristin Scott Benson. Kristin is a five-time IBMA Bluegrass Banjo Player of the Year recipient, 2018 Steve Martin Banjo Prize winner, and banjo player for the Grammy-nominated Grascals.
Kristin is also the face behind our Teachers Love Goodtimes campaign.
NEFESH MOUNTAIN
We welcome husband and wife duo Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, collectively known as Nefesh Mountain. The duo combine a love of bluegrass music, and Jewish musical styles, often singing in Hebrew, and have been making waves in both arenas. We will discuss everything from banjo style, songwriting, touring with your spouse and the unlikely pairing of bluegrass music with their Jewish heritage.
ASHLEY CAMPBELL
Ashley Campbell, as many of you know, is a banjoist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and of course the daughter of the legendary Glen Campbell. She is the proud owner of multiple Deering banjos and her new album, "Something Lovely" is due to be released next Friday, October 9th.
SEPTEMBER 2020
STRING CHANGE WORKSHOP
Join Deering Banjo Co VP Operations, Chad Kopotic for a special string change workshop! Get your banjos out, get a pack of strings and let's change them together.
ERIC GIBSON
Please excuse the technical error at the start. Our guest today is one half of IBMA award-winning bluegrass duo, The Gibson Brothers! Joined by his brother Leigh, the Gibson Brothers have pulled down a host of accolades over the years, including back to back IBMA Entertainers of the Year in 2012 and 2013.
Check them out:
gibsonbrothers.com
DOM FLEMMONS
We are very excited to feature GRAMMY Award Winner, Two-Time EMMY Nominee, and 2020 United States Artists Fellow Dom Flemons to Deering Live. He has branded the moniker “The American Songster” since his repertoire of music covers over 100 years of early American popular music. Flemons is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor, music scholar, historian, and record collector.
Check out Dom online:
theamericansongster.com
HANK SMITH
Hank is a fantastic three finger style 5-string banjo player who is influenced by bluegrass, jazz, blues, classical, and more. He is also an adjunct lecturer of the banjo at University of North Carolina. Hank performs his widely influenced music with Hank, Pattie & The Current and plays a Deering Maple Blossom and Crossfire!
DAN WALSH
Everything about Dan Walsh and his approach to banjo is unorthodox. It is what makes him such a unique and spectacular player. If you are not familiar with Dan, picture this - A British guy, playing funky groove-laden Clawhammer on a banjo that many would argue should be reserved for Bluegrass, all the while infusing his own dose of British and American folk, with the occasional sprinkling of Indian/middle-Eastern influence. Dan challenges just about every misconception about what the banjo is and how it should be played, and we look forward to exploring his take on it.
VALERIE JUNE
Our guest on Deering Live this week featuring the wonderful Valerie June. We get into how she approaches the banjo, music being good for the soul, and the personality of her instruments. For those that aren't familiar with her music, definitely check her out! She has an amazing blend of soul, country, folk, blues, and world music. She also has an incredibly positive energy about her that is truly palpable and will pick you up.
AUGUST 2020
JENS KRUGER
We are really excited to welcome Jens Kruger back to Deering Live to play for us and talk about what he has been working on. In this episode, we talk with Jens about his banjo journey, his composition techniques, and music as a source of happiness. This was definitely a fun and in-depth conversation with one of the world's foremost banjo players.
TALKING STRINGS WITH JENS KRUGER & GHS'S JON MOODY
Listen back to a discussion with master banjoist Jens Kruger and Jon Moody from GHS Strings, as we delve into all things strings!
RYAN CAVANAUGH
Our guest this week has been praised by Bela Fleck as “one of the best technical players ever” He is one of the top 3-finger style 5 string banjoists in the world, and has taken the single string technique to new heights. As a protege of jazz guitarist John McLaughlin, he is well known for his meticulous and technical playing style, incorporating anything from modern jazz to world music and everything in between.
JULY 2020
TONY TRISCHKA
Tony Trischka is a master of the 5 string banjo and has been at the forefront of bringing the banjo from its traditional roots to new unexplored soundscapes. Tony discusses tips on increasing speed, his approach to banjo, as well as the banjo itself.
MARK JOHNSON
We're excited to feature Mark Johnson, the father of Clawgrass banjo playing on Deering Live this week! If you aren't familiar with what Clawgrass is, it is a unique way of playing clawhammer banjo that utilizes "rolls" similar to the 3 fingerstyles. Mark's unique style doesn't really fit into a strict category. It's very bluegrass but has overtones of traditional folk, progressive acoustic, new-grass, and old-time all mixed into one.
DAVID HOLT
This week on Deering Live we will feature 4 time Grammy Award winner David Holt. David is a musician, storyteller, artist, historian and radio and television host. For more than forty years, he as collected and performed the songs and stories of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He learned this treasure trove of music directly from musical greats including Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Tommy Jarrell, Etta Baker and Grandpa Jones. We talked about the history of clawhammer and old-time music, demonstrating some different styles, and stories from the road from his years playing with Doc Watson, Grandpa Jones, and more.
PROPIK FINGERPICKS
Jamie Latty talks with Deering CEO Jamie Deering and Marketing Director David Bandrowski about their recent acquisition of the ProPik brand, how it came about, and the many varieties on offer.
For more info go to https://pro-pik.com