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Since we haven't been in Columbus of late, the release of BLUE WHEELS...AND OTHER GUITAR FAVORITES by Jim Volk gave us an excuse to spotlight the capital city's acoustic side of things. After a seven year run in Austin, Texas, Volk relocated back to Ohio and set up shop in Columbus, w here his Modern Acoustic Guitar Fest has been a hit in both Columbus and Dayton. Through the magic of an Internet Q&A, OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts and Volk sorted everything out during a journey through a couple musical planets the latter has visited. |
| OO: |
What first got you interested in playing guitar? |
| JV: |
"I don't believe there was a time that I wasn't. There was t his musical group called The Beatles and...well, you know the rest." |
| OO: |
Are you a Columbus native? |
| JV: |
"I was born in Illinois, but lived in Cleveland for 13 years and attended Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights High schools, albeit irregularly." |
| OO: |
National acts that have influenced you besides the Beatles? |
| JV: |
"Besides the Beatles, Pentangle to the prog rockers to King Sunny Ade to Frank Zappa to Stravinsky to Fats Waller to Emil Richard's Microtonal Blues band to Ravi Shankar, but that's just sniffing the surface." |
| OO: |
With all that in mind, describe your music. |
| JV: |
"As far as the solo work goes, it's Fingerstyle guitar primarily, pretty melodic, rhythmic stuff. 'Modern Acoustic' is the title I market under. It leaves the music not as susceptible to stylistic pigeonholing and the provision for the bits of electronica that I have embraced over the years. Influences span many area of guitardom. Don't ask me what national player I sound like." |
| OO: |
What national act would you match up with in concert? |
| JV: |
"I could play on a bill with any act, I'm very adaptable to most environments and I love being in new and diverse situations. In the past year, I've shared a bill with Fairport Convention, John Renbourn, Waterson: Carthy. The typical British legends keep me on my toes." |
| OO: |
In that case, what Ohio acts do you perform with? |
| JV: |
"I usually perform with other soloists, sometimes groups. There is such a wealth of talent in Ohio, I don't want to single anybody out, thereby omitting any. I conduct the Columbus Modern Acoustic Guitar Fest, sometimes in other cities." |
| OO: |
Favorite venue to play in Ohio? |
| JV: |
"There are many different ones for different reasons, but, if I had to nail one down, I'd have to say The Barking Spider in Cleveland on the Case Western Reserve University campus." |
| OO: |
Is this your first disc and where was it recorded? |
| JV: |
"Third overall and first on my Steel River Recordings label. I've had numerous requests for live recordings, so I am working on That at. It was cut at Jay Bentoff's Dark Tree Studios in Cleveland." |
| OO: |
How did you enjoy the studio? |
| JV: |
"Tremendously. I've know Jay since high school in Cleveland and have been waiting to record this release with him for a long time. As far as engineering goes, you can't get any better than him. I relied on his ears every step of the way." |
| OO: |
Finally, what are your long term plans? |
| JV: |
"More disc releases, more writing, more performing, more collaborations orations, more money making, more merry making, more, more, more." |
