Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz interview

Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz interview

Author: Matt Hutchinson September 26, 2023 Duration: 56:08

My guests this week are Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz, who join me to talk about their wonderful new record  'Nothing But Green Willow : The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry.'

The album brings together a selection of British folk songs collected in Appalachia in the early 20th century by Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles. Alongside Martin and Thomm it features a range of incredible artists from both sides of the pond, including Sierra Hull and Justin Moses,  Angeline Morrison, Odessa Settles, Tim O’Brien, Tammy Rogers, Seth Lakeman, Dale Ann Bradley and Tim Stafford.

We talk about how the songs made their way to Appalachia, how (and why) Cecil and Maud travelled to the region to collect them and why this record is so important to both Martin and Thomm.

It was a truly fascinating conversation and it's a superb record. I'd really urge you to check out the physical copies of this one as the packaging is amazing and features some really informative and fascinating liner notes. There's a list of places you can find the record here - https://simpsonjutz.lnk.to/nothingbutgreenwillow

Happy picking,
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)


Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

- Review us on Apple Podcasts


Hosted by Matt Hutchinson, Bluegrass Jam Along is an IBMA Award-winning conversation that feels like pulling up a chair in the middle of a lively, expert picking session. It’s built for anyone with an ear for the intricate stories and sounds of bluegrass and old-time music, going far beyond just the recordings. Each episode brings thoughtful interviews with the people who shape the scene, from legendary performers like Alison Krauss and David Grisman to the skilled instrument makers and writers whose work forms the foundation. You’ll hear from voices such as Sierra Hull, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, and Sarah Jarosz, discussing craft, history, and the personal journeys behind the music. Alongside these deep conversations, the podcast weaves in updates on new releases and notable news, keeping you connected to the evolving string band world. The result is a rich, weekly listen that offers both education and genuine camaraderie, mirroring the collaborative heart of a jam itself. Tune in to this podcast for an authentic and engaging exploration of the music, hosted by someone deeply embedded in its community.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 516

Bluegrass Jam Along
Podcast Episodes
Bluegrass Briefing - December 4th 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:47
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and announcements (Church Stree…
Mini Jam #6 - 3 tunes at 85bpm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:25
This week we've got something I haven't done in a while - a mini jam episode. That means we're playing 3 tunes back to back instead of focussing on just one. The idea is it feels a bit more like playing at a jam session.…
Bluegrass Briefing - November 27th 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:11
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and announcements (Church Stree…
Big Sandy River (A 75 bpm) - You Play Rhythm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:09
This week we're jamming along to Big Sandy River and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play rhythm track where I play the melody so you can work on backup. It's four times through i…
Big Sandy River (A 75 bpm) - You Play Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:01
This week we're jamming along to Big Sandy River and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play lead track where I play backup so you can work on the tune. It's four times through in th…
Big Sandy River (A 75 bpm) - Jam Along [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:37
This week we're jamming along to Big Sandy River and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the jam along track where I play backup, followed by the melody then we keep swapping. It's four times…
Big Sandy River (A 75 bpm) - Performance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:06
This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Big Sandy River. This is a performance track, rather than a backing track. It's me playing both tune and backup so you've got a reference to listen to if you're new to th…
Bluegrass Briefing - November 20th 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:59
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and announcements (Church Stree…
Home Sweet Home (D 85 bpm) - You Play Rhythm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:48
This week we're jamming along to Home Sweet Home and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play rhythm track where I play the melody so you can work on backup. It's four times through i…
Home Sweet Home (D 85 bpm) - You Play Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:37
This week we're jamming along to Home Sweet Home and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play lead track where I play backup so you can work on the tune. It's four times through in th…