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We are posting the statement of purpose and preamble to the bylaws
of a new organization that is in formation The Association of Black
Traditional String Players, Inc. This organization to be
incorporated in New York State as what the state calls a "not for
profit" will seek federal 501c3 Tax Status. The major event on its
schedule will be a general membership meeting to establish the
organization fully that must take place some place in New York
State. We believe that this meeting can take place sometime in the
first months of 2006.
The organization is an organization of African and African
American players, supporters, and scholars of traditional music.
As the preamble states percussionists and players of jazz and
classic banjo are included.
This effort has been the product of joint work of many of us who
were centrally involved in the Black Banjo Gathering.
In the coming months, we will be seeking the support and advice long-
range and practical of the entire old time music and banjo community.
Africans and African Americans who wish to join this effort can
contact us at black_traditional_string_players@hotmail.com.
For a statement of purpose, and for downloadable flyers, go here.
What a success! The Gathering surpassed our wildest dreams...please check back here for updates on how it went. Got pictures? Please email them to Rhiannon at fiorabella@yahoo.com. Got comments? Criticisms? Helpful advice? Just want to tell us your experience? Please email BlackBanjoGathering@hotmail.com. Click on the pic to go to some pictures!!!  Sule Greg Wilson & Ephraim McDowell kicking it up at the first Black Banjo: Then and Now Gathering April 2005.
The Gathering was produced by the online group, Black Banjo: Then and Now (BBT&N) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BlackBanjo/), an online group founded in
March 2004. BBT&N strives to create awareness that banjo playing come out
of the African experience, to support contemporary Black banjo players, to
celebrate the Banjo's place in Black music and culture, and to highlight the
banjo's role in cultural exchange.
Presenters at this historic event included Swedish musical instrument collector and researcher Ulf Jagfors, Gambian scholar and musician Daniel Jatta on West African relatives of the banjo, luthier Pete Ross on how Minstrel banjo and Black folk styles relate, musician and educator Sule Greg Wilson on rhythm and banjo playing, historian, storyteller, and banjoist Rex Ellis, and Dr. Cecelia Conway on her new recordings and films of elder tradition bearing African-American banjo players.
Elder fiddler Joe Thompson, accompanied by Bob Carlin, will perform at the Gathering as will Don Vappie, The Ebony Hillbillies, Mike Seeger, Clark Buehling and the Skirtlifters, Tony Thomas, Kerry Blech, Allen Hart, George Gibson, and Dr. Joan Dickerson. We expect to develop funding to add North Carolina Folk Heritage Fellow Etta Baker, Otis Taylor, and other performers and resources to the roster.
We had a great time with workshops on banjo playing and issues of Black banjoists, scholarly presentations, open jams, evening frolics, a Saturday night concert, and plenty of free time and space to jam, meet, and mingle.
To get on our mailing list and find out about the possibilities for next year, email: BlackBanjoGathering@hotmail.com. Or, join Black Banjo: Then & Now on Yahoo at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BlackBanjo/.
If you wish to perform at, present at, help publicize, and/or help raise funds fo the Gathering email Blackbanjotony@hotmail.com. 
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