THE PANDEMIC SESSIONS
New Tunes in the Old-time Style (mostly)

Coming soon . . .

The Pandemic Sessions comprises a series of recordings of compositions by Larry "Friar" Edwards, old-time fiddler — aka the Fiddlin' Friar (an ironic moniker he acquired as a mountain man re-enactor). This volume contains the sheet music of these compositions, as well as explanatory notes (and asides).

The companion CD will feature most of the tunes, or the tracks may be downloaded individually. The recordings include Friar playing the fiddle (because he couldn't afford to hire a Nashville pro — beaver plews, apparently, no longer being as good as gold), as well as bass and (very little) guitar. The accompanists and featured soloists include virtual guest artists (a number of whom are Nashville pros).

The virtual recording sessions.

Although the compositions span more than two decades, most of the recordings were made during the Great COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020, when live music and jam sessions became a thing of the past, and "virtual" became the word of the day. These recordings feature Friar playing the fiddle (because he couldn't afford to hire a Nashville pro — beaver plews, apparently, no longer being as good as gold), as well as bass and (very little) guitar. His accompanists and featured soloists include virtual guest artists, although a few tunes have in-person accompanists.

The original plan called for this to be completed in 2020, but life (and work) intervened, and since the Pandemic is still raging, it will be released in early 2021.

Some of you may recognize a few of the earlier tunes, and the collection includes a number of newer tunes, written in the past year or two.

Tunes and Songs

1. Biawaaisee Baalo (Bead Woman)
2. Christine's Breakdown
3. Fiddling Infidelities
4. Fleece & Flannel
5. Fur Reel (Fer Real!)
6. Got the Pandemic Blues (and nowhere to cruise)
7. Grinnin' Al Grennan
8. Hatman's Reel
9. Janis

10. Manitoulin Thunder
11. Moonshiner's Stomp
12. Ode for Elijah
13. Rats in the Rafters
14. Red Pint Rag
15. Spellbound Waltz
16. Strummer's Breakdown
17. Trick or Treat
18. Your Smile

A number of people deserve a great deal of thanks for providing feedback and encouragement (in most cases) with regard to the development of these tunes (and their titles) and the relevant chords, especially Chuck "Strummer" Preble ("You bastard. How many beats in FOUR/FOUR time?") of Heritage; the Yellow Dog Band of Trapper Wyatt, Archie Breeden, Hank Hiskes, and Nancy Brunson Wyatt ("Who put all those damned notes in this tune?"; The Granddaddyo's, Bruce Barnes and Larry Joslyn; and Steve Green, whose irrepressible (and unfiltered) wit inspired two of the tunes, as well as a nod to Ian Law and Tim Brittain for pointing out errors in the transcriptions. (Hey, Friar's a hillbilly fiddler, not a classically trained grad of Berklee or Juilliard.)

And let's not forget Bob, as in Bob T. Parrot, the overbearing, pie-eyed producer and recording engineer who oversaw every session (at least in spirit, so to squeak). That's Bob to the right, stealing a nip of tuning fluid from Friar's cup.

"C sharp, you damn cracker!" he squawks.

Bob is not his real name. He got christened as "Bob" after getting drunk and falling overboard. Besides, he hated being called Polly and, no, he doesn't want another damned cracker. He's a rescue bird from one of the pirate gigs; he has issues, but he means well (yeah, it's complicated).