@damfino -

Hey, thanx for introducing a very cool band & fiddler! 

Aaron Jonah Lewis is a wonderful fiddler!  See he also plays with the Corn Potato String Band and also plays classical finger style banjo!  About Aaron Jonah Lewis says he's currently based in Detroit!  Omg, that's only a 20-30 min drive on the expressway from me! 

Aaron really burns up the fiddle here, with the "Russian Rag" by George L Cobb (American 1918 & 'new' version 1923). 

How long really good fiddlers play their tunes, to get them known inside & out, has always been in the forefront of my mind. 

My observations:

Many Irish tunes are simple enough to learn quickly.  Good old Irish fiddlers played the same tunes for many years - I believe it's why the music seems to be part of their souls, even though it was probably done more to keep trad tunes alive.  

I saw a video where Aaron played this rag somewhere else, 3 years prior - so, he's been playing it for a good number of YEARS.  Sure, he's been playing since he was 5, but I still believe it's important to realize 'time played' is probably a big factor in memorizing and honing a complicated tune like this rag - may take months, or if me, maybe closer to a year. (lol) 

🤔... wonder if Aaron Jonah Lewis played at one of the few "North American International Banjo Convention" (NAIBC) events I attended in Dearborn, years ago.  This year is another, in just a little over a week away - maybe he'll be at this one!  It's still in my home town and covid is no longer a concern!  Wish I was in better shape & able to go (guess it's back to more torture with physical therapy). 

- Emily

@damfino -

Thank you so much! 

I'm not in good enough health to go out right now, but maybe some time this year - I would like to hear him in person. 

Finding more little surprises by him!  

GREAT presentation, "An exploration of interesting veins in the roots of Old Time, Bluegrass, Ragtime and Jazz music."! 

The title is deceiving - NOT a Banjo Concert!  He plays the Fiddle & Banjo & talks about some great History on playing both, in this - from 2019 at the Hamtramck Public Library.