New Release: Dinner In Tennessee

Hey all! I have a new album out on Bandcamp today. This twelve song collection features acoustic blues and roots music performed on guitar, and explores some fingerstyle and slide techniques.

The Devil’s Lullaby Video Single

Fingerpicking and Slide 101

A short tutorial on some of the guitar playing techniques used on “Dinner In Tennessee:”

New Release: Rondos Vol. 1

Hey all!
I am pleased to announce the release of my latest album, Rondos Vol. I, a collection of original tunes in rondo form. This first volume of music features demonstration recordings for fifteen tunes and a PDF booklet. (CD and print versions to come!) Check it out here:

https://jackdwyer.bandcamp.com/album/rondos-vol-i

Jack Dwyer On Mandolin Mondays

Here’s a video of Rondo No. 6, as featured on the YouTube series Mandolin Mondays:

Music Booklet

Included with the audio download is a 36 page PDF booklet with complete music notation for all fifteen tunes and an introductory chapter on the origins and structure of the rondo. Here is a look at the sheet music for Rondo No. 1 The Homecoming Rondo:

Great Jack, But What Is A Rondo?

Oh wait a minute… You don’t know what a rondo is? No worries! I didn’t either, but I went and found out. Now you can read all about it down below (nerd alert).

A Word From The Author: (From the Bandcamp liner notes)

These tunes are an exploration of the rondo form, which originated in European baroque and classical music and entered folk traditions around the world including Brazilian choro, and French musette. The rondo form is characterized by a primary refrain that alternates between two or more novel themes. As an example, the rondos in this volume generally follow an AA BB A CC A form.

This particular rondo form is also known as the “French waltz form” for its presence in French musette and is also a major feature of Brazilian choro music (of various time signatures). Choro developed in Rio de Janeiro during the early 1900s in parallel to American ragtime and is a similar amalgamation of African, Indigenous American, and European influences.

Both choro and ragtime feature syncopated rhythms, recurring melodic themes, complex harmony, and modulating tonalities. However, the two styles developed somewhat independently of one another, and this created notable differences between them. Whereas choro relies heavily on the rondo, ragtime’s main European formal forebearer was the march form popularized by John Philip Sousa. The march is a more recent development, and bears a stronger resemblance to the sonata.

That is all to say: the Northern American rondo is a rare thing. Some rags are rondos, like Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” but most are not. There are a handful of American fiddle tunes that come close. Bill Monroe’s “Big Mon” features an alternate A part: A B A1 B. The Texas contest tune “Lime Rock” or “Limerock Rag,” is sometimes played as a rondo. However, aside from a few exceptions, this form never flourished in the United States the way it did elsewhere even in the Americas. This was likely due to the popularity of ragtime, as well as the longstanding hegemony of the AABB form.

Which brings us to a question… what if this were not the case? What if there were rondos in America? What would they sound like? Well… no need to wonder! Just sit back and enjoy this alt-history musicological experiment. Partake in some parallel-universe folk music. In this spirit, I submit a first volume for your listening and playing pleasure.

Keep a look out for Volume II!

Thanks for listening,
Jack Dwyer
Port Townsend, WA
Spring 2023 

New Release: “Bear In A Beehive”

Hello friends! I am happy to announce the release of my latest album, a collection of original fiddle tunes, called “Bear In A Beehive,” available for stream and download on JackDwyer.Bandcamp.com

I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to maybe someday picking one of these with you in the future!

Jack

New Release: Radio Music Theater Vol. 1

And now, Radio Music Theater!

I am excited to announce the release of my latest album, a collection of musical short stories, entitled Radio Music Theater Vol. 1.

Track Listing:

1 Overture
2 The Mailbox Trilogy – A strange story about my neighbor, his lady, and the postman.
3 A Denver Omelet – A man wakes up to discover he has no idea who he his, where he is, or where he came from… an omelet ensues.
4 The Tree And The Bird – An old tree makes a new friend.
5 Exit

Available now for stream and download at:

https://jackdwyer.bandcamp.com/album/radio-music-theater-vol-1

Two New Releases, Introducing Radio Music Theater!

I am happy to announce the release of two new original recordings, “A Denver Omelet” and “The Mailbox Trilogy.” They are both hybrids of narrative and song, something I’ve decided to call: radio music theater.

A Denver Omelet

A man wakes up one morning to discover that he has no idea who he is. An omelet ensues… (And three songs for your listening pleasure!)

Available for stream and download at:

https://jackdwyer.bandcamp.com/track/a-denver-omelet

The Mailbox Trilogy

A completely true story about my neighbor, his lady, and the mailman… Features three original songs!

Available for stream and download at:

https://jackdwyer.bandcamp.com/track/the-mailbox-trilogy

Stay tuned for more radio music theater Jack Dwyer originals!

Thanks for listening,
Jack

New YouTube Videos!

Hey all,
Just wanted to let you know, I have some new videos up on my YouTube channel: new solo videos, and four videos from a July session with Bobby Winstead. Drop by youtube.com/jackdwyermusic to watch! Check back soon for more new videos, or subscribe to my Youtube channel to receive notifications of new video posts.
Talk soon,
Jack

4.5 Stars for “When You’re Here For Christmastime” on Giant Killer Records

A good review for our first official release!

Bobby Winstead and Friends
When You’re Here For Christmastime
bobbyandthelonggoodbyes.com

EXCERPT:

Bobby Winstead and Friends
When You’re Here For Christmastime
Giant Killer Records

4.5 Stars

“…Bobby Winstead and his friends provide us with some quality Christmas entertainment. The songs are well written and aimed at fans of those old-style Christmas LPs of yesteryear. This is a Christmas release but anyone who like, “real” country may well enjoy it. Hopefully in the future we can look forward to lots more Bobby Winstead albums.”

– Paul Riley CMP Magazine (p 48. Dec 2018 issue)