 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Plectrum Banjo |
 |
|
I started playing 4 String Plectrum Tuned Banjo when I was about 13. "My cousin in Michigan sent me a four-string banjo, a tenor, that he didn't want any longer. I decided that if I couldn't play ragtime piano, maybe I could play something like it on banjo, like the records (Bunk Johnson & Lu Watters) my dad gave me." "I discoverd a four-string banjo teacher, Harry Tenbarge, who was a member of the Evansville Dixieland Society, which had the only Dixieland band in town. He played plectrum style. I just tuned my tenor like his. I didn't know the difference." – Excerpt from an interview by Jim Uhl, |
"Eccentric" Bria Skonberg - Trumpet, Claire McKenna - Clarinet, Emily Asher - Trombone, Shannon Thue - Piano, Katie Cavera - Banjo, Georgia Korba - Bass, Beth Goodfellow - Drums. |
"Hanukkah In Santa Monica" CJ Sams - Sousaphone & Vocal, |
|
|
Guitar |
|
|
"A lot of people would ask if I doubled on guitar. I thought I should; it would make me more marketable. So two years ago, when I heard that Rebecca Kilgore was teaching guitar at the Adult Swing Camp put on by the jazz club in San Diego, I thought: If I could only do what she does! Not fancy, just perfect. The right changes, a lot of finesse. I signed up." – Excerpt from an interview by Jim Uhl, |
"All Of Me" Jamming with Hertz, the shop owner of "Vintage Guitars" at his store in Paris, France. This remarkable video was created by my friend Julien. |
"A Little Love, A Little Kiss" Clint Baker - Trumpet, Tom Sharpsteen - Clarinet, Jim Leigh - Trombone, Mike Fay - Bass, Katie Cavera - Guitar, Hal Smith - Drums |
|
|
String Bass |
|
|
"I went to Swing camp again last year but they had a plethora of guitar and banjo students, so I ended up in a string bass class taught by Clint Baker. Later, he gave me one of his old instruments. I made my on-stage debut as a bass player at the Sonoma County festival last November." – Excerpt from an interview by Jim Uhl, |
"Salty Dog" Clint Baker - Drums, Riley Baker - Drums, Robert Young - Sax, Leon Oakley - Cornet, Jim Klippert - Trombone & Vocal, Katie Cavera - Bass, and Monte Reyes - Banjo. |
"Cocaine Blues" Johnny G. - Guitar & Vocal, John Harford - Lead Guitar, Katie Cavera - Bass, Hal Smith - Drums |
|
|
Tenor Banjo |
|
|
When David Boeddinghaus first approached me about performing in the show "Looking For Josephine" he asked if I could play Tenor or 6 - String Banjo. He wanted to music to sound authentic for the period (Josephine Baker's 1920's Review Show). I had been toying with the idea of learning Tenor tuning and I thought this show would give me the perfect opportunity to try it! By the time I went to meet and rehearse with the band in New Orleans (May 2006) I had enough of the instrument under my fingers to play it with the group. For more on my tour with this show, visit my "Letters From Paris" page. |
"Down In Clint Baker - Clarinet, Robert Young - Sax, Leon Oakley - Cornet, Jim Klippert - Trombone, Katie Cavera - Tenor Banjo, Tom Wilson - Guitar, and J. Hansen - Drums. |
"Bourbon Street Parade" Chris Tyle - Trumpet, Otis Bazoon - Clarinet, David Sager - Trombone, Katie Cavera - Tenor Banjo, Tom Saunders - Sousaphone, James Alsanders - Snare Drum, Brian Scott Bagley - Bass Drum |
|
|
National Plectrum Guitar |
|
|
This instrument was made in the 20's for banjoists that wanted a "guitar" sound. The scale of the neck and the tuning are the same as my Plectrum Banjo, so I didn't have to learn a new tuning when I started playing this in the Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals in 2004. I'm including it as a point of interest because it has an unusual look and sound. I play the 'National' exclusively on the Reynolds Brothers recording: "ZaSu Records No. 6" available on my Discography page. |
"Somebody Stole My Gal" Clint Baker - Trumpet & Vocal, Craig Ventresco - 6 String Banjo, Katie Cavera - National Plectrum Guitar |
"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" Meredith Axelrod - Guitar & Vocal, |
|
Here are some of the bands I currently work with.
Click on the photos to go to the band or bandleader's website
(where applicable).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
