John Dowling - Winfield Bluegrass Banjo Champion, 2002, now available for lessons in London.

BBC Radio Cornwall Interview

JOHN DOWLING ON BBC RADIO CORNWALL, September 12th, 2003

A live and fitting conversation with John Dowling was the main feature in the David White Show on Radio Cornwall on Friday 12th September 2003, the day after JDs twenty-second birthday on 9/11. The broadcast followed immediately after the 11am news bulletin had announced the sad news of the passing of Johnny Cash.

The clash of musical cultures in Cornwall was evident at the faltering start, but John's rendition of Tony Trischka's '2.14' left both David White and his sound engineer drowning in their own cliches. It was obvious that in their world of' ‘Pop’, they had heard nothing like this before. Interspersed with the occasional discs, their conversation then began to flow with a little more spontaneity. It was obvious that they hardly knew what a banjo looked like so John's gold-plated Deering added a sparkle to the ensuing wondrous chatter. This allowed John to demonstrate a variety of banjo techniques.

'This one, for example,' he said, 'should ring a bell.' And he laid down a slow three-finger roll for their startled benefit before letting go with 'Shell be coming round the Mountain”. Already text messages were arriving. 'Can John play Duelling Banjo's?' asked one caller. 'I'm a window cleaner and I'm cleaning faster than ever.' So to his eternal credit, he did; that's what the popular audience wants. Then for those jazz aficionados that think that only their man can, John led his host into the realms of lateral thinking and, by 'noodling' around with a few chords, showed how a new song can evolve very rapidly.

There was total disbelief in the studio. John spoke, with reverence, about his current muse and proceeded to pull out 'Blue Moon' in the Tommy Emmanuel manner. First a base line, then add a few chords before finally overlaying the melody. A mid-paced 'Lady Madonna' followed in the same style. Then, as if to show that he was pushing the banjo in his singular direction, John ran through 'Since We Met' - a slow, gentle number by Emannuel. David White was overwhelmed. 'It's like having my own concert, here in the studio!' he exclaimed with evident pleasure.

By this time, he came up with a plan. 'Maybe we can get John to play a snatch from a tune. Whoever phones and guesses that tune will win a prize. "Waltzing Matilda'' guessed a delighted Wendy a few minutes later. 'Correct! You win a copy of John’s new cd. Will we see you at the concert tomorrow?'' David asked. 'Yes, ' said Wendy who then announced – no doubt to his abject horror - that her husband plays a bit of.,banjo. I’ll be at the bar!'

At David White's urging - he was well into Bluegrass by now - John explained that there were two rounds to the Winfield contest from which he came away as the National Bluegrass Banjo Champion of the United States of America 2002. Each of the competitors played two numbers out of sight of the judges but in full view of the live audience. Neither was anyone allowed to speak - not even to announce the number they were about to play. The contest was judged entirely on ability. But the fact that John played two self-penned numbers must have alerted the panel to a unique talent. 'Yes, and then they discovered I was English!'

Asked what he thought might have clinched the prize, John rolled into his emblematic rendition of 'Whitewater' that left the entire BBC studio ecstatic. In between times, John was then allowed a moment or two to confirm that his new album - which hadn't made it to his gig with Bluegrass Central in the Western Hotel in St. Ives on the Monday - should be available at their Carnglaze Caverns gig on the day after the interview. It's not entirely a solo album, he said; he has Rex Preston and half the Williams family, Stu, Russ and Lucy, accompanying him on mando, bass, guitar and bazouki but it is largely a self-produced CD with original tracks.

Between this and that, a goodly part of an hour was given over in this instance to the twin causes of John Dowling and Bluegrass in the UK. With his natural ability to explain things, John proved to be a very creditable ambassador for both. After recently abandoning their dedicated programme of local folk music, it is to their eternal credit that BBC Radio Cornwall took up this challenging interview in a field of music that, despite the enthusiasm following in the wake of the film 'Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?' remains a minority interest. It is through such broadcasts that our music can hope to flourish. Credit also, to our- new found .friend, Kay, at the spectacular underground venue, Carnglaze Caverns, who set it up.

Besides inviting John to play at BBC Radio Cornwall's Christmas party, word has it that David White wants to put together an hour-long programme dedicated to John and his music.

David Wilkinson. Editor, String Band News. 12th September 2003.

To listen to the entire interview, press:-

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