In the ArtistWorks Music Roundtable podcast series, members of the ArtistWorks faculty are joined by notable musical guests to discuss topics on anything and everything music. Subjects ranging from touring and memorable moments on the road to recording, songwriting, musicianship, music theory, technique, and more will be addressed. Nothing is off-limits, and all musical themes are fair game!

In this episode of the ArtistWorks Music Roundtable, our Director of Content and Production, Marcus Luscombe, is joined by world-renowned banjo player and ArtistWorks bluegrass banjo instructor, Tony Trischka, and critically acclaimed music educator and fiddle virtuoso, Kenny Kosek. Together, Tony and Kenny discuss their experiences sharing the stage as part of the bluegrass outfit Breakfast Special, as well as early bluegrass festivals, the culture surrounding them, and how they’ve evolved over the decades. They also recount a few of their favorite shows they performed together, their touring shenanigans, the time they both met Bob Dylan, and more.

LEARN MORE: Want to learn how to play banjo from a bluegrass master like Tony Trischka? Try a free banjo lesson now!

Kenny Kosek is one of the preeminent fiddlers of the last several decades. A master of the bluegrass style, Kenny has performed and recorded with acts ranging from Country Cooking to Breakfast Special, Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, and beyond. Kenny is also a highly in-demand session musician and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Laurie Anderson, Steve Goodman, John Denver, James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Loudon Wainwright III, The New Blue Velvet Band, and more. Kenny and Tony have shared a long history of performing together, and continue to musically conspire to this day.

“Tony and I have played in numerous bands together over the years. The main band that we focused most heavily on was Breakfast Special, which really only lasted from 1973 through 1975. But, its deeds, music, and memories resonate through time,” Kenny explains with a chuckle.

Tony goes on to explain his first interactions with Kenny, and how their experience recording together on the first Country Cooking album, released on Rounder Records, altered Tony’s perception of music and performing with a fiddle player.

“Peter Wernick, the other banjo player in Country Cooking, knew Kenny and recruited him to record on the first Country Cooking album with us,” Tony explains. “I didn’t know Kenny at the time, but, when I heard him play, it completely blew me away. I had never had an experience playing with a fiddler of that caliber before.”

To learn more about these two master musicians and their life as world-renowned bluegrass performers and educators, listen to the full podcast with Tony Trischka and Kenny Kosek here:

If you’re interested in studying the banjo and learning about Tony’s unique approaches to performance, musicianship, and the bluegrass style, check out his online banjo lessons right here at ArtistWorks!

ABOUT THE ARTISTWORKS MUSIC ROUNDTABLE PODCAST:

On the ArtistWorks Music Roundtable, members of our faculty of master musicians are joined by notable musical guests to discuss topics on anything and everything music. Subjects ranging from touring and memorable moments on the road to recording, songwriting, musicianship, music theory, technique, and more will be addressed. Nothing is off-limits, and all musical themes are fair game!

Looking to dive into more music podcasts? You’ve come to the right place. Investigate previous episodes of the ArtistWorks Music Roundtable podcast where plenty of topics are explored with fantastic, hand-selected, and knowledgeable guests.

Want to get started on overcoming the roadblock on your musical journey with our online music lessons? Try out some free sample music lessons with any of our master musicians and learn from the best!

READ MORE:

ArtistWorks Music Roundtable Podcast—Episode 2: Keith Wyatt & Don Mock

Bluegrass Banjo Lesson: Leapfrogging 6ths with Tony Trischka

ArtistWorks Music Roundtable Podcast—Episode 1: Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg