Tony Trischka’s ‘Earljam’: A good time - Scruggs style

Mon, 05/06/2024 - 12:00pm

Banjo master Tony Trischka, whose students have included Bela Fleck, arrived with his band - Michael Daves on vocals and guitar, fiddler Alex Hargreaves, and bassist Jared Engel - for a concert at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor May 3. The music of Earl Scruggs was celebrated, from childhood to his final years.

Trischka had recently come into possession of extremely rare recordings of jam sessions with Scruggs and John Hartford. Trischka transcribed and recorded Scruggs’s note-for-note solos from a several of these; many are songs Scruggs never recorded. 

And speaking of musicians ...Said Opera House Executive Director Cathy Sherrill, “It was a great show featuring the music of Earl Scruggs, and some great stories too! Jonathan Edwards was in the audience and joined the band during their encore - playing his famous harmonica. It was another incredible night in the old house.”