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TwangGuru plays "b-HEE-b-HAW-p"

When Hee-Haw collides with Bebop -- you get B-hee-B-haw-P, country-jazz. TwangGuru continues a legacy of country-jazz which bagan long before 1995, when Jim Stringer and a handful of friends produced a record called "Travis County Pickin'" for Hightone Records subsidiary, HMG.

The record took two years to produce, featured 18 musicians playing all original music inspired by country-jazz pickers such as Jimmy Bryant, Hank Garland, Chet Atkins, George Barnes, Buddy Emmons, Leon Rhodes, Buddy Charlton, Grady Martin... and so on.

To call "Travis County Pickin'" a hit record would be only a clear indication that the speaker is clueless about what constitutes a "hit" record. However, the record dug itself deeply into the small, but devoted hearts of country-jazz afficianados throughout the world.

Some of the tracks from "Travis County Pickin'" are included in the TwangGuru Talk repertoire as well as many new original compositions, along with country-jazz standards from the last 100 years. Twin guitar licks, plaintiff pedal steel, intertwined improvisation, swingin' bass and drums all are part of what makes this music challenging, toe-tappin', and danceable.

That's B-hee-B-haw-P.

SXSW 2009

AM Band at SXSW

Photo by Dana Lynne Strnger
© The Music Room.
Click here for a larger image. (L-R) Jenn Miori (acoustic guitar), Jim Stringer (electric guitar), Ralph Power (drums), and Carl Keesee (bass).