Alan Munde's name has come to be synonymous with good, clean, precise banjo-picking that emphasizes tone, timing and technique. He currently fronts his own group called The Alan Munde Gazette. He's also built a strong reputation as a knowledgeable and credible instructor who has, since 1986, taught full-time in the Bluegrass and Country Music Program at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. This book and CD feature 15 tunes from his popular "Solo Banjo" project. The banjo tab transcriptions correlate well with the renditions. There are many bluegrass and traditional standards such as Old Joe Clark, Red Wing, Liza Jane, Lonesome Road Blues, Prisoner's Song, Grandfather's Clock, and John Henry. I wish that his tab would have included indications of where each tune's "A" and "B" parts begin. With over four pages of tab for "Old Joe Clark," it's easy to get lost among the 166 measures. "Red Wing" has some interesting double-note accents. A three-part song medley includes The Old Spinning Wheel, Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet, and Seeing Nellie Home. I was familiar with an arrangement of "The Old Spinning Wheel" in D-tuning, so it's nice to see it here in G-tuning. "Liza Jane" gives a 5-string player a good workout with slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. A few other numbers incorporate harmonics. Alan uses both Scruggs and melodic styles, and he'll get you thinking banjaristically as you work through the material.
Variations for many of the songs like "Titanic" and "Liza Jane" get you playing high on the neck. Have fun in the 20th and 21st frets on the latter! Three of Alan's own originals will really test your chops. "Fred's Frolic" is a creative piece. Melody and harmony parts for his self-penned "Peaches and Cream" make for a delicious and sugary treat. Munde's "The French Broad (River Song)" requires a different banjo tuning of GDGAD lowered step to F#. In a similar way, Munde's arrangement of Maurie Ravel's "Pavane For A Dead Princess" lowers the banjo's tuning step from the standard GDGBD. Playing along with this music will help you appreciate why Alan Munde is one of the most highly respected and best-loved banjo players in the world. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)