Making Music Magazine Features Bluegrass in July Issue

For anyone seeing an authentic bluegrass band for the first time, the unique instrumentation, driving tempos, soulful harmonies, and fierce, piercing tenor singing can be a lot to take. The sharp suits and masterfully virtuosic musicianship defy any “hillbilly” stereotype of its southern Appalachian roots, and it’s hard to disagree that ace bluegrass musicians are among the best of any genre.
Making Music staff writer, Jason Borisoff, also a member of the Salt City Ramblers of Syracuse, NY. has a feature article in the July issue of Making Music Magazine called “The Lonesome Language – A Helpful Guide to Bluegrass Music.

Borisoff also included a demonstration video with his band and gives individual descriptions of each of the standard bluegrass instruments’ various roles in a standard bluegrass arrangement.

Borisoff quotes Pete Wernick (Dr.Banjo) himself a longtime advocate of helping beginners to understand bluegrass fundamentals

“While blazing instrumentals might be what grab your attention at first, bluegrass music is really centered around the vocals. Bill Monroe, aka the father of bluegrass, set the standard for “the high lonesome sound” with his powerful tenor voice. Drawing from the gospel tradition, bluegrass also features close harmonies with anywhere from two to four voices.

Borisoff says, “When learning to play bluegrass, the best thing to do is find other people to jam with.”

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