The clawhammer genius of Al Tharp

You know how it is when you go see this band that you're sort of interested in, but maybe not really sure, and then they turn out to be surprisingly amazing and afterward you end up buying everything you can get your hands on by them and becoming a total fanatic? Then you're kicking yourself for not having been hip to them before you had the chance to see them live or maybe even hang out with them and have some kind of cool adventure? That's kind of how I feel about the banjo workshop I attended a few years ago when New Orleans roots musician Al Tharp came to town. I had just been learning clawhammer style for less than a couple of months when my teacher suggested I go. Before I go any further here's a clip of Al:

In case you're wondering, clawhammer banjo is the style where the player strikes downward on the string with the edge of his nail (as opposed to an upward pluck) and is really a very old style of playing that goes all the way back to Africa and reveals the instrument's origins on that continent. It's very, very different than the more well known bluegrass banjo sound known as Scruggs style where the strings are plucked with metal fingerpicks. Al Tharp is truly a clawhammer master and, more importantly, has just about the most original take on this sound that I have ever heard. He did spend time deep in the Appalachians, learning first-hand from masters like Tommy Jarrell and Lee Hammons but I think one of the things that really helps make his style as ridiculously funky as it is, is the fact that he has now lived in New Orleans for some time and has thoroughly absorbed the deep roots of the region. He takes Cajun fiddle moves and mixes them with the second line and out comes something that no one else does. Here's Al playing the old-time standard  "John Henry." (MP3) I think his thumb has a lot to do with it-the way he just pops it so hard and relentlessly, as well has his smooth, four-on-the-floor footstomps which almost sound like a techno bass drum. Speaking of which, a bit of Al's playing found it's way into part two of Buck 65's magnum opus, internet giveaway "Dirtbike."   "Square Dance" (MP3) By the way, faithful followers of the WFMU blog might recognize the voice heard at the end of the track... Basically, ever since I went to Al's workshop I've been trying really hard to catch some of that sound-with varying degrees of success. I sure wish I had another chance to sit down and get some first-hand pointers but at least I have my recording of the workshop that a fellow attendee slipped me. Hope you dig hearing this very funky man. Here's one more taste:"Boatin Up Sandy." (MP3) Enjoy!

Comments

[joisy]

Please do not forget to mention Clarence Ashley. I first saw this clip in the documentary "Desperate Man Blues" the story of Joe Bussard. Clawhammer style is such a amazing sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKrF5qZ1lpg

[vertefish]

Clawhammer, yes!! Richie Stearns got me hooked on clawhammer in the 80's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k23JJSJNyg

[st vincent]

Cool stuff, Stranger!

You might also want to check out R.D. Lunceford:

http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/home.asp?id=10826

and

http://www.elderly.com/recordings/artist_list_with_images?aname=Lunceford%2C%20R.D.

And another amazing banjoist, Morgan Sexton, sadly departed:

http://www.well.com/user/dmsml/morgan.html

I'm a fledgling fingerstyle guitarist, self-taught until I started lessons last fall... I had it pointed out to me that I my right had does a weird mutation of clawhammer/frailing. I am now learning to do it "the right way" as a proper fingerstyle player, but I will still keep my mutant clawhammer style in my bag of tricks.

Great post! Thanks!!!

[John L]

Is this the same Al Tharp that's in Beausoleil? (Who was the guy in the band who died awhile back?) And I guess that's a typo spelling it Tharpe?

[StrangerThanFiction]

Thanks for the comments and feedback-that clip of Clarence Ashley playing "Cukoo Bird" is THE reason that I got a banjo and decide to learn clawhammer. Richie Stearns is amazing-that's a wicked version of "Leather Britches." Indeed Al was the bass player in Beausoleil-I'm not sure if they have a new guy now or not but you can see him with James Leva in a band called Purgatory Mountain. There's a few clips of Al with them on YouTube.

[Jim]

Here is another example of some classic clawhammer banjo playing by Uncle John Scruggs in the 1920s outside of Richmond, Virginny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuNbIr0m8bI

[Goyim in the AM]

Here is a well-known frailer, doing clawhammer style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l31MSpojWTA

[Al Tharp]

Yup it's the same Al Tharp.. I'm my own best alibi!