Junior Appalachian Musicians Benefit Concert Lights with Grammy Winner - TribPapers
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Junior Appalachian Musicians Benefit Concert Lights with Grammy Winner

Esme Ashton sings “Silent Night,” with Jim Lauderdale at right. Photo by Pete Zamplas.

Hendersonville – JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) Kids of Henderson County sparkled in their annual benefit concert – their second in a row with Grammy-winning Americana artist Lauderdale joining them. He came on toward the end of their set, then did a solo set as the headliner. An Evening of Song with Jim Lauderdale on Dec. 27 drew a packed crowd in Trailside Brewing Co. in Hendersonville, at $30-$100 per ticket.

The youths played well in synch, and took turns playing lead instruments, with some singing. They held merely two weekly rehearsals for the show. The group has nearly 30 student musicians.

Grammy Winner

Lauderdale won Grammy awards for the best bluegrass album, in 2003 and ‘08. He won the Americana Music Association’s Wagonmaster Award.

Lauderdale, 66, has released 35 albums since 1991. His newest CD is entitled Game Changer, recorded in Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studios. Lauderdale wrote 15 country songs that George Strait recorded, and collaborated with Loretta Lynn, Ralph Stanley, and rock stars John Oates and Elvis Costello. Guitarist Lauderdale noted that he originally aspired to play bluegrass banjo. At 13, he studied under Jim and Arlene Kesterson, and graduated from the N.C. School of the Arts.

JAM chapters are across western North Carolina, South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. The local one’s sponsor is the non-profit French Broad River Music Association. FBRMA hosts free mountain music jams in Trailside 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

Rifkin, Cannon

Veteran fiddler Carol Rifkin launched the local chapter in 2019. JAM instructors Rifkin, Scotty Owenby, Blaine Chappell and Logan Trussel and also John Mitchell played with the youths. Rifkin has hosted the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville. She has clogged at Merlefest. Rifkin did a few leg kicks while fiddling. Some of the ten young female fiddlers tried imitating her.

FBVMA’s aim with JAM is to spread to younger people the joy of playing mountain music in groups and also listening to and dancing to it, Rifkin noted. Benefits include raising self-esteem and socializing skills, developing musicianship and stage presence, belonging and contributing to a group, camaraderie, and a greater sense of community. FBVMA promotes and helps preserve old-time, bluegrass, centuries-old ballads, hymns and other traditional music and local mountain culture.

The FBRMA Board has Chairman Ryan Cannon, Anna Morris, Anna Ashton, and Dale Salvaggio-Bradshaw. Cannon, a 2001 Hendersonville High School grad, got interested in mountain music while studying at Appalachian State University. Cannon told the crowd that old-time music is “as American as apple pie.” He told the Tribune how important it is to carry on such musical traditions.

‘Natural Feel’

Lauderdale said that he feels overjoyed to see diligence and enthusiasm in young mountain musicians. He said that banjo player Miles Krueger is an example of a musician with a “natural feel. The music comes to him.” Krueger was the first to play lead instrument in the concert. He said that he initially felt “nerve-wracking.” But the young teen settled in well. “I’ve done this for so long.”

Lauderdale noted that mountain musicians can veer off into other musical directions, too. Indeed, Krueger said that he also likes playing funk music on electric guitar and is already developing original tunes.

Cannon is proud that some JAM musicians are competing and winning awards. Owen Ashton was part of a five-member string band that competed in South Carolina in the fall of 2022. In the recent JAM concert, he sang lead on Hank Williams “I Saw the Light.” A year ago, Owen helped host and told jokes. He’s among eldest JAM youth. He’ll turn 15 on Jan. 26.

Four Ashtons

Four home-schooled Ashton siblings, including Owen, are integral to JAM concerts. Young fiddler Esme Ashton sang “Silent Night” to close the JAM set.

Caelum and Eva also have remarkable stage presence. Caelum practices musical “presentation.” He looks very relaxed, and often smiles both while in the spotlight on the lead or in the background. He and fellow banjo player Krueger unleashed some showmanship, in a dual lead. They both swung their banjos side-to-side like a large pendulum, before resuming playing. Caelum also likes Eighties rock music.

Check https://jamkids.org/hendersonnc for info on the local JAM chapter and how to donate, and a link to FBVMA. Email Carol Rifkin at FBVMAmail@gmail.com. The Buncombe County JAM is led by Lori Cozzi. Email her at bmca@BlackMountainArts.org.