MUSIC
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This month the topic turns to a young fiddler from Dartmouth Nova Scotia by the name of Nason Scribner. Nason is a student of the great Gordon Stobbe of “Up Home Tonight” fame and it shows in the precision with which he plays.
Nason has been a summer resident of PEI for a number of years and was inspired to play fiddle by many campfires held at Marco Polo Land and the fact the his great grandfather Vance Balsor bought him his first full sized fiddle at an early age.
Nason was fortunate enough to gain employment at Avonlea Village at the age of eleven as a member of the Barnyard Boys. His employment at Avonlea Village brought him in touch with Neil Matthews who encouraged and mentored him in the business of performing and took him across the island to play shows at many different locations.
Finally, at the ripe old age of fifteen Nason, with Neil’s urging, entered the studio to record his first CD. This CD contains a list of very familiar tunes as well as one called “The Black Dog” that Nason wrote. Beside Nason’s composition are familiar tunes like Red Wing, Ste Anne’s Reel, Maple Sugar, The Westphalia Waltz, and the all-time favourite fiddle show tune, Orange Blossom Special.
Neil Matthews also contributed three of his most famous Island songs to this CD, The Friendly Fisherman, Backin’ Off The Traps, and what should be the new PEI anthem, Beautiful Island. Neil was in fine voice for this effort and his love of the Island way of life shines through. He has been a great inspiration to Nason over their time at Avonlea Village, hence the CD title, Inspirations.
Generally this is an heroic first effort for young Nason and you can tell from his playing that he has been well schooled and that he has a love of music that goes far beyond this first CD.
If you’d like to have a copy of this CD you could call Neil Matthews at 902-892-0430 or Nason himself at 902-435-7198 and I’m sure they’ll only be too glad to see that you get one.
I had the opportunity to take in the Gospel Brunch as part of the second annual Bluegrass Gathering at Marco Polo Land and I was pleasantly surprised by the large attendance. This will, I’m sure, become an integral part of every Bluegrass Gathering from now on. Next years event promises to be bigger and better than this year’s with promises of more off island bands and an overall better lineup to satisfy, not only, bluegrass fans but fans of traditional country and gospel music. This year’s gathering was a far better event than last year and the organizers seem to be settling in for the long run.