Rhiannon Giddens Instagram – Feb 19
Black Banjo Renaissance #8
Don Vappie // @vappiedon
When talking about the black banjo renaissance it’s important to also talk about the folks who have been carrying on the lineage, often out of the mainstream spotlight. Don Vappie is an incredible guitarist and 4-string tenor banjo player who represents the Creole jazz culture of New Orleans and is an important example of someone steeped in tradition from childhood who is still carrying it on today, and innovating as well, in that same place. People of color never stopped playing banjos, contrary to popular belief – the numbers dwindled massively for various reasons too long to go into on this particular post (and in some places died out completely) – but some folks just keep on keeping on. And beautifully so. | Posted on 19/Feb/2024 18:12:31
