Unusual Harmony-made Mandolin - Jen Larson & Michael Daves

[BradKlein]

I've had the pleasure recently, of helping promote a new recording project by Jen Larson, one of the best bluegrass singers I know of in the NYC area. You may have heard her with the band Straight Drive. And the recording is being produced by another great singer and guitarist, Michael Daves who you may know from his work with Chris Thile and with Tony Trischka.

Anyway, while I was producing the Kickstarter video HERE, in case you're interested, the two sat down and ran through one of Jen's originals. Not only is it a nice off-the-cuff recording, but it's a chance to hear Michael play some mandolin. He favors this unlabeled Harmony-made, instrument, probably from the 1930s, probably based on the designs of Albert Shutt. It has a solid pressed top with no bracing, and is the only one I've seen with the 'Deluxe' inlay in the peghead. I remember he got it at just about the same time Chris got his first Loar and the two of them couldn't have been happier on stage with their new mandolins one night at Michael's regular Tuesday gig on the Lower East Side. Enjoy!



Of course, the video looks much better if you open it in Youtube and choose HD, it'll fill your screen quite nicely.

[barney 59]

I particularly liked the little tiny people bopping around between the instruments. Leprechauns in NYC. who would ever have thought... That Shutt style Harmony sounded pretty good. They often get a bad rap.

[MikeEdgerton]

Some of these were pretty intense, we have several threads regarding the Harmony Shutt models. I think most of them are pre 1930's by the way. This one has some really amazing features. All of the cafe threads for these can be found here.

[BradKlein]

Yes, these are lightly built instruments, with unbraced fairly thin tops, and mahogany necks with no truss rod. And perhaps less than AAA ebony fingerboard. The combination is an instrument that can't take as much string pressure as a carved top Gibson. Michael's has a graphite bar underneath a replacement fingerboard, and that helps.

[billkilpatrick]

excellent.

[BradKlein]

I've just put up another video of Michael Daves and Jen Larson, with Noam Pikelny, and Larry Cook sitting in. I think it's a great example of bluegrass harmony singing. (apologies to you banjo fans for not shooting Noam from in front, but he SOUNDS great, as always)

And thanks to those who contributed to Jen's kickstarter project. It's going to be a great trad BG recording.

[billhay4]

Nice sounding instrument.
Bill

[BradKlein]

JEN LARSON EP RELEASE TOMORROW - SHOW IN BROOKLYN SATURDAY
Andy Statman, Michael Daves, Barry Mitterhoff, Chris Eldridge, Noam Pikelny

Sometimes recording projects move slowly, but are worth the wait. The Jen Larson EP that started this thread last year, releases TONIGHT via CD Baby, and the launch party/show is at Jalopy in Brooklyn Saturday, if you're nearby. I'll include more info and audio on this thread as it becomes available. Here is the CD info and event poster. It's been years since I've heard Statman play it 'straight' on a bluegrass recording. He and Noam tear it up!

[bart mcneil]

This makes me wish I hadn't left NYC. Will order the cd.

[BradKlein]

That reminds me, I should have posted this sample track from Jen's EP. My favorite song of hers, based on the true story of Centralia, PA and the coal mine fire that's burned there since 1962 CENTRALIA INFO.

[allenhopkins]

Can I put a bit of a plug? Jen (and I) will be on staff at a Traditional Music & Dance (TradMaD) week at Pinewoods Camp near Plymouth MA, last week of August 2015. Other staff members include Liza Carthy, John Kirk, John Roberts, Andy Cohen, et. al.

No financial gain to me if Cafe´members attend or not, but I'm looking forward to a fun week, and to meeting Jen in person.