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Frank Wakefield and Jim Moss getting ready for the show..
Backstage Freight & Salvage Coffee house, Berkeley California
( Nov. 18th 1997 )
Photo by Jim Moss/Bob Black

 
 
 
Frank Wakefield, Paul Squyres and Bill Amatneek warming up.
Backstage Freight & Salvage Coffee house, Berkeley California
( Nov. 18th 1997 )
Photo by Jim Moss/Bob Black

 
 
 
Frank Wakefield, Bob Black and Paul Squyres
Backstage Freight & Salvage Coffee house, Berkeley California
( Nov. 18th 1997 )
Photo by Jim Moss/Bob Black

 
 
 
Bill Amatneek and Bob Black
Backstage Freight & Salvage Coffee house, Berkeley California
( Nov. 18th 1997 )
Photo by Jim Moss/Bob Black

 
 
 
Bob Black, Paul Squyres, Bill Amatneek and Frank Wakefield before
the show Backstage Freight & Salvage Coffee house, Berkeley California
( Nov. 18th 1997 )
Photo by Jim Moss/Bob Black

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I was there in the audience, and now I've been back stage!!
--
-- Rodney Freeland, Berkeley, CA-
 


 
 
All:
I was lucky enough to attend a Frank Wakefield concert last night at the
Freight and Salvage folk club in Berkeley.  Here are my impressions...
I'll say right off that it was a *great* show, IMHO.  I had never seen
Frank before, though I have several of his recordings.  He was hanging out,
selling tapes and CDs before the show, so I introduced myself.  He was very
friendly and encouraging when I told him I was learning to play mandolin.
 (Note for you SF Bay Area CoMando's:  Frank will be doing a mandolin
workshop on Sunday <11-23-97> from 2-5, at the Steve Swan Guitar shop,
437 Colusa Ave, Kensington, 510-527-1734, $25.  Unfortunately, I can't
make it, but maybe others will be luckier.)
Frank is quite a character on stage.  If he were having any more fun while
playing, it would probably be illegal <g>.  He had a great time with his
band-Jim Moss on fiddle, Bob Black on banjo, Bill Amatneek on bass, Paul

somebody on guitar (Frank said he had just met him yesterday).  This was
not an overly-rehearsed gig by any means-vocals were rough, and the band
never knew who Frank would point to for the next solo until it happened-
but the spontaneity and inspiration factor was very high.  They played a
mix of Frank Wakefield instrumentals and bluegrass standard vocal numbers,
with a lot of Monroe material.
Frank plays a wide range of styles and techniques, ranging from very
straight-ahead driving Monroe-style breaks to way-out-there stuff that only
Frank could play, or think of <g>.  It's hard to single out specific
numbers, but he managed to take one or two jaw-dropping solos in every
tune.
The high point came at the end of the second set.  First he brought out
David Nelson, former New Rider and Frank compatriot in the Good Ol' Boys.
 David's singing elevated the energy level as they dove into "Here to Get
My Baby Out of Jail" and then a faster-than-light "Rawhide".
The energy level went up even higher when Peter Rowan came on stage to
"testify" with Frank and crew.  They started off with "The Dreadful Snake"
and then exploded into an incendiary version of "White House Blues" played
very much in the Monroe style.  Frank's first solo evoked Big Mon's spirit
by following the original Monroe break nearly note-for-note; then on his
next break he took us all to "Planet Frank" with one of his crazy
descending inside-out arpeggiated solos that started way up on the
fingerboard extension and ended up way down on those low strings of his
famous Loar.  They then slowed down for a goose-bump-raising rendition of
"Walls of Time".  Peter sang his heart out and Frank again evoked Monroe
with several very classic bluegrass breaks.  It was one of those musical
moments that you wait for...
Anyways, it was a great time and I've still got "Rawhide" and "New Camptown
Races" running through my head.  I bought Frank's new CD but haven't really
had a chance to listen to it yet.  Were any other CoMando's there??
Take care,
-- andy shaw-
 


 
I had bluegrass runs living in my head all the way home.
We couldn't even put on a tape.  I've emailed abunch of people that went
and everybody says the same thing "epic".  It was one of those magic
moments in bluegrass.  I especially liked the way you handeled the
fiddle on The Walls of Time.
Im also going to try and do an article in the
Bluegrass By The Bay Magazine with photos.....
-- phototom-

 
 

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This just takes a little time to put up...
 
 

Order The New 
Sleeping Lady CD

I am interested in the Sleeping Lady CD:  FWB@candlewater.com

Sleeping Lady 
Turkey In The Straw, Walkin' In My Sleep, Catnip, Moonlight Waltz,
Bluegrass Swing, The Old Mountaineer, Call Of The Shepherd,
Little Rabbit, Cruel Willie, Cotton Eyed Joe, Salt Creek, 
Carol County Blues, Sleeping Lady, Midnight At Bean Blossom
Independent  Reviews

"Sleeping Lady" Bluegrass Instrumentals
by Jim Moss (on Fiddle),
featuring Frank Wakefield (Mandolin)
and Bob Black (Banjo), is a CD that must
not be kept a "Sleeping Lady".  It must be
heard by all!

I purchased the CD after the Frank Wakefield
Concert at McCabes!   I was able to meet
Jim Moss~ and I must say i was very impressed
with his playing!  Actually, I think the band would
have played into the wee hours of the night... that is
how much they love their music!   BTW the concert
was 3 1/2 hours long!

On the CD, my favorite songs are:  "Moonlight Waltz",
"Catnip", "Little Rabbit", and "Cotton Eyed Joe".

Check this CD out... for more information
contact the web site
http://www.candlewater.com/henflings/

You won't be disappointed!

My best,
Linda Riha
Burbank, CA
 

Linda,
That is a GREAT album.  I bought one from Mr. Moss at the
Frank Wakefield Band show at McCabes.  I don't think I have ever heard
Fiddle and Mandolin with the rich Monroe sound as I have with this CD.
Mr Wakefield's mandolin sounds like it is coming through the speakers.
Same for the fiddle.   This is like no other mandolin CD.

Why can't we get more CDs with the huge sound that Sleeping Lady has.
Moonlight Waltz is incredible.   I also like Walking In My Sleep.

This is the first Moss album I have seen.    Does anyone know if there
are others out.

This sure has the Monroe sound.
Bill Mason
 

Frank Wakefield's fiddle player, band leader, manager and booking agent,
Jim Moss has a new CD called "Sleeping Lady". Frank's all over it with his
own unique style as is Bob Black on banjo and various others. This is some
really powerful fiddle playing....tough,strong recording. Bluegrass on
steroids! There are some good old tunes, some new stuff and it's a really
fresh take. He uses some open tunings on the fiddle where it sounds like a
bunch of bagpipes along with the fiddle. Good stuff as anything Frank
participates seems to be. Get it at: www.candlewater.com. Highly
recommended with no financial interest. 
Larry Otis
 

I have to second Linda's "A MUST"!  Sleeping Lady is one of the most
tasteful projects that I've listened to in quite a while.  All instrumental,
and several Jim Moss originals.  Jim's fiddle is spectacular, Wakefield's
Loar is stellar, and Black's banjo is about as tasteful as I've ever heard.
Kenny Baker must be some more teacher!

Gary McElwee
 
 

I just wonder why we don't hear more music like this.  If you close your
eyes it sounds like Monroe himself.  It also sounds like Frank Wakefield.
The fiddle has real punch in fact the entire album has punch.  This is
what bluegrass sounded like in the 1960's.  Hard! and Tough!

Bill Mason

 

 
 
   
       

The 1983 "Through The Windshield" album or the 1982 "Tanyards" album along with 
all of Bob Black's hand written  banjo tab can be ordered from this site.   To order 
any recordings or banjo tab or to send anyone mentioned on this site comments, or to 
get on our private email mailing list, just doubleclick the blue hyper text below, fill 
out and send the email form that will appear.


 

 
   
 
"Through The Windshield,
Jim Moss Bluegrass Fiddle"
BB147 County Sales: with Bob Black on banjo, Jeff Smith on mandolin,
Dave Thompson on guitar, and Paul Squyres on bass.
With guest David "Slappy" Chalupsky on banjo.
    With Sugar in the Gourd, Mitchell's Reel, Long Cold Winter, 
Cattle in the Cane, Dark was the Night Cold was the Ground, Old Uncle Jordan, 
Liberty, Paddy on the Turnpike, Apple Blossom, 
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, Through the Windshield.

 
 
"Tanyards, Jim Moss Bluegrass Fiddle"
BB145 County Sales: with Bob Black on banjo, Jesse McReynolds on mandolin,
Dave Thompson on guitar, and Roy Husky Jr. on bass.  With special guest Kenny Baker.
  
With Bill Monroe's "Tanyards" and "Reel Foot Reel". 
Also, Arkansas Traveler, Forked Deer,My Resting Place, Cherry Blossom, 
Old Blue Hen, Bluegrass Blues # III, Florida Blues, New Sailor's Hornpipe, 
Chicken Reel, Baker's Boarding House.
 

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Again, your comments and suggestions are encouraged.

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