Banjo virtuoso John Reynolds "Chinatown" with Brad Kay, Sweet & Hot L.A. 2010

[@tashikitten]

One of the greatest pleasures in life is getting to see and hear John Reynolds play. He’s wonderful. I adore him.

[@peepas2633]

John is a MONSTER on that thing.

[@albertofranchi6408]

Great

[@sfvacid]

that banjo player is John Reynolds and my father.

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Hi, thanks for taking this great video! For newcomers, this was the lobby traditional jazz jam session, led by Brad Kay, at the long-defunct Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival which used to take place at the L. A. X. Marriott hotel in Los Angeles every Labor Day Weekend, from the 1980s thru the 2010s. The festival is over but videos, audio recordings and happy memories remain. In addition to the hired professional bands that performed in various ballrooms and meeting rooms of the hotel (as well as the bar/restaurant), this free-for-all jam session was led by Brad in the lobby (a difficult feat, akin to herding cats). Here is the personnel in this video, as best as I can tell: John Reynolds - 4-string tenor banjo (the same kind used by Harry Reser; he might be using a Reser tuning) Tom Marion - guitar (influenced by Nick Lucas among others) Brad Kay - piano, bandleader (influenced by Willard Robison, Duke Ellington and many others) Brion Tajiri (sp?) - drums (don't know his influences) me - washboard (influenced by Pete Devine, Ralf Reynolds, Bob Raggio, Jimmy Bertrand and others). I should note that John was a featured performer at this festival for many years, with the Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals and many other bands. He may have been performing with them that year, or perhaps with Janet Klein. Tom and Brad were likewise featured with various groups over the years. All still perform professionally around So Cal.

[@Leesbiz52]

WTG John. Super awesome.

[@TheDaddyNaggins]

Fantastic playing! From everybody. I'm a Five string picker, but, I am mightily impressed with that gentlemans playing. Fantastic! And good craic was had all round , it seems. Cheers for posting

[@iampele]

Amazing banjo skills! Props to the percussionist in the background as well!

[@TheVargsriket]

Holy crap, he's insane, incredible banjo skills!

[@waveegravee]

John is a board-certified banjo-monster !!!!

[@LikwitSwords]

They are so good wow

[@bikersgl1]

Great loved it!

[@EvanJr]

Fine🎖️

[@angelito197502]

yes sirrrrrrrr,this is MUSIC

[@mtlicq]

Super !

[@Chesterton7]

The best.

[@vac1234]

カッコ良すぎ！！！

[@banjochris]

Guitarist is Tom Marion.

[@m34nb34n]

Cool

[@SammyNeverEver]

What kind of ensemble is this?

[@Lujd-z6i]

Is this a tenor guitar!?! Or a plectrum it sounds like a plectrum

[@BeingRomans829ed]

Anybody else reminded of the Mayberry Ladies' Aid Church Committee all crocked on Colonel Harvey's Indian Elixir? 8-)

[@AntonVittal]

what tuning the banjo guy uses?? I can't recognize any chord shapes. I use C-G-D-A, the standard.

[@hounddoghill]

RockSteadyZone - I think from hearing/seeing it's maybe "Chicago Tuning" - Which is D-G-B-E (maybe? it's been awhile since I seen this tuning)...

[@austinbertak917]

almost certain he's using plectrum banjo tuning CGBD.

[@bassfiddlesteve]

I think he's using plectrum tuning up a 4th: F-C-E-G

[@prushimush]

He's using a Bacon & Day Silver Bell No. 1 tenor banjo with an extended fretboard - notably not a plectrum as the scale is shorter. His chord forms are all plectrum though. I think the tuning is FCEG also - plectrum CGBD up a fourth as previously speculated. The extended fretboard lets him hit high C and F chords you'd otherwise lose on a tenor tuned this way. Pretty creative way to adapt plectrum tuning on a tenor scale banjo!

[@pooinsky]

really? I never would have guessed, I thought this was an audio-book

[@captainbadd]

That guy looks like FDR

[@zloidooraque0]

balalaika techniques ftw! =)