Riverside Concerts

http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/

Think of traditional African-American music, and the genres that come to mind are gospel, blues and jazz; few people think of old-time string band music. But the antebellum combination of banjo and fiddle used to be a tradition in most black rural communities in the South. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band of three young and talented musicians, are recognized as leading the revival of this venerable musical tradition. The Carolina Chocolate Drops honed their skills under the tutelage of octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson, a North Carolinian said to be the last black traditional string band player. Thompson, who grew up playing at barn dances, "frolics" and corn shuckings, wound up performing in venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall. Dom Flemons' guitar and jug root the band in an infectious rhythm, and he plays harmonica for additional melody. Banjo and fiddle player Rhiannon Giddens became inspired by old-time music when she fell into contra dancing after graduating from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Justin Robinson is the band's primary fiddler. Trained in classical violin, he became interested in bluegrass and old-time fiddle music, as well as the fife and drum tradition of African-Americans in the Deep South.

This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Minnesota State Arts Board, General Mills Foundation, and Land O' Lakes Foundation