STRING
BAND KEEPS IT IN THE FAMILY Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
7/17/2008
NEW
YORK’S JACKOFSKY CLAN SERVES UP ‘UNIKEWITY’
“Ragged
but Right” is the Homegrown String Band’s new CD. You won’t find a
whole lot ragged about it, though. You will find a whole lot right. The
band--the Jackofsky family of Long Island, N.Y.--has preserved the
spirit of American folk music in classics such as “Shady Grove” and
“Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down,” as well as originals such as “Prayin’
for Spring” and “The Man Who Dressed in Black” (a tribute to Johnny
Cash).
Like
traditional American folk ballads, many of the songs tell a story--as
in “Take Me Away,” an original tune about two brothers at the Civil War
battle of Cold Harbor.
“We
try to keep our music fresh but still rooted in the sounds of
traditional American roots music,” said Rick Jackofsky. Rick and his
wife, Georgianne, with their daughters, Erica and Annalee, have been
performing together for 11 years.
After
two years away, the Homegrown String Band is returning to
Fredericksburg on Monday at 7 p.m. to play Music on the Steps at the
headquarters library on Caroline Street.
WE
ARE FAMILY
Rick
and his daughters sing. Rick plays guitar, clawhammer banjo and
harmonica. Georgianne plays banjo, uke, dulcimer and doumbek. Erica
plays fiddle, and Annalee, the mandolin and jaw-harp.
“We
didn’t set out to play any particular genre of music--we just tried to
make music and have fun with the instruments we had chosen,” said Rick.
They
have taken “the Quaker testimony of simplicity to heart,” he said.
“Keeping with the theme of simplicity, we naturally chose traditional
acoustic instruments.”
The
family’s faith is part of who they are, as is their music, Georgianne
said. But “we don’t preach anything. Maybe by example we can sort of
show people a slower way of life and one where families can stay close
and enjoy each other.”
Their
quest for simplicity goes back to a time before they were a family
band. Although Rick had studied bass at the Berklee College of Music,
and used to play in country and honky-tonk bands, he had pretty much
given up music by the time he and Georgianne got married in 1980. Ten
years later, after the girls were born and he was working as a
photographer, Rick was seriously injured when he got hit by a bus.
“That
accident is what led Rick back to music,” said Georgianne. “He decided
then that life was about family, and we were spending too much time
doing useless things.” They determined to go “back to a simpler way of
life,” she said. “I began making bread by hand again. We got a beehive.
We made yogurt. We grew an herb garden and vegetable garden. We also
read books out loud.”
“We
started telling stories, dancing, and making our own music to entertain
ourselves,” added Rick. He took up guitar again. Erica began learning
violin in fourth grade. “Annalee didn’t want to be left out, so we
bought her some jaw-harps,” said Georgianne. “That same year, in some
crazy inspired moment, Rick bought me a mountain dulcimer as a 15th
wedding anniversary present,” she said.
A
few years later, they gave their first public performance, at the Long
Island Traditional Music Association members’ concert. “We thought we
were going to do three or four songs, but got there to find out that
only us and one other person came to perform,” said Georgianne. “So we
played for 45 minutes. We had so much fun, we continued doing it.”
Four
CDs and hundreds of concerts later, they are still having fun together,
delighting their audiences with music, stories and dancing.
Traditionally,
they wind up their shows with a performance of Appalachian flatfoot
dancing--Rick strumming his guitar while each of the ladies does a clog
dance with such energy and rhythm that you’ll be glad someone is
keeping this folk art alive.
The
Homegrown String Band and its fans celebrate something they call
“unikewity” (based on Annalee’s child- hood mispronunciation of
“unique”). They define it as “the special quality that makes you you,
the part of you that is extraordinary, one of a kind, unique.”
This
band has plenty of that, and they share it, giving their audiences an
hour or so of joy that they can choose to take home with them and keep
on living. Steve
Dunham lives in Spotsylvania County. 7/08
AOL
Cityguide Review AOL
Cityguide The
Jackofsky family is a tight-knit bunch, willing to live, work and play
together night after night as they present their blend of all-American
roots music. The quartet, which hails from Rocky Point, N.Y., consists
of mom (Geogianne), dad (Rick) and daughters Erica and Annalee. Though
officially formed in 1997, it's easy to see that this group has been
together a lot longer. They make their mountain music using a number of
popular instruments, from the mandolin to the banjo, the dulcimer to
the fiddle. With a bit of dancing, they create a fun-for-all hoe down
that relies heavily on folk and bluegrass. Reminiscent of the Carter
Family of the 1920s and '30s, the Homegrown String Band adds modern
strains of blues, country and rockabilly that makes their music
interesting and lively, even to the casual listener. About the only
thing missing for this real-life Partridge Family is a flower-power
tour bus. - John Briggs
A
SIMPLE KIND OF LIFE Long
Island Press Nov 18 -
Nov 24, 2004 ROCKY
POINT’S HOMEGROWN STRING BAND ARE JUST YOUR AVERAGE QUAKER FAMILY
BLUEGRASS-FOLK ACT By
Kenyon Hopkin
Walking
into the home of the Jackofsky family is like walking into a small
library. The shelves in the front room are lined with books of all
kinds. In the kitchen, it’s like an authentic general store. There’s a
scale to weigh vegetables (which they grow themselves), a pasta-maker
and dried herbs in jars. Georgianne, the mother of the house, is eager
to show off the electricity-free devices and large assortment of
acoustic instruments, such as a dulcimer, banjo and stand-up bass. What
you won’t see in this Rocky Point house, built in 1929, is a TV,
dishwasher, video game system or microwave. That’s because the
family—also known as the Homegrown String Band—have adopted the
lifestyle of Quakers, where tradition, rather than technology, defines
them.
“You
don’t really think of the things you don’t have,” says Georgianne, who,
like her daughters, wears spectacles and has long, bristling hair tied
behind her back. “Sometimes I feel like we have too much and we need to
get rid of more.”
Rick
Jackofsky, a former marathon runner, is also adamant about their
anti-consumerism stance. “One of the testimonies of Quakers is
simplicity, to not use more of the earth’s resources than you need.”
This
same attitude goes with the music of the foursome (which also includes
Erica, 20, and Annalee, 17). Playing a blend of bluegrass and
traditional folk, the group’s instrumentation is an acoustic combo of
banjo, fiddle, jaw harp, mandolin and dulcimer. Original and classic
pieces can be heard on their third and latest recording, Rock Hollow,
the original name of Rocky Point. Due to the nature of the music,
people are often surprised to learn that they live here, assuming they
are from West Virginia or South Carolina.
“On
Long Island we’re like a novelty act,” says Rick. We get invited to do
things like harvest festivals, museums, and old-timey things like that.
When we play upstate or Pennsylvania, people know the music already and
we’re more accepted.” Georgianne agrees: “On Long Island people want us
more because they like the idea of the family and they think because
we’re a family and we play this kind of music that we fit into an
image.”
Though
they do live in a relatively secluded northeastern patch of LI, why not
just move into the woods or on farmland in Pennsylvania or upstate New
York? Besides low expenses from their daily routine, the reasons are
actually ironic.
“One
good thing about living here is the dense population, giving us more
opportunities to play,” explains Rick. “We know people who live in [the
South] and they have to drive four hours to every gig they play.”
Having
spent enough time upstate, Rick and Georgianne moved to Rocky Point in
the early ‘80s and began raising their two children. But 1990 proved to
be a turning point in their life. Things changed. Rick, a marathon
runner sponsored by sneaker companies, had injured his knee, so he
started riding a bike. In an unfortunate twist of fate, he was hit by a
school bus while riding and broke his back. From that day, they found a
new set of values, and shifted to an Amish-like view, going so far as
to give away the vacuum and television, and use candles instead of
lightbulbs. They knitted, made bread and yogurt, and kept an active
beehive in the backyard (yes, a beehive). Since then, modern
conveniences such as a CD player and toaster have slowly “crept up” on
them, though it’s still far from a standard suburban LI home. (Just in
case you’re wondering, they do have a refrigerator, phone and
plumbing.) Television, of course, was a big challenge. It only took
three weeks, however, to get used to its absence.
“I
don’t think about it, I haven’t had a TV since I was 7 years old,” says
Erica, who, along with Annalee, has been home-schooled. “I don’t
remember missing it when we shut it off. Now if I sit in front of a TV
I fall asleep. We weren’t around our peers who had TVs, so we didn’t
have the pressure. We didn’t have to worry about the latest fashions.
We just did our own thing.”
Rick
recalls this crucial turning point, that motivated him to pick up a
guitar and sing to his kids. This proved to be the seed for the band.
“I started thinking, ‘We rush through so much and we’re missing
things.’ That’s when I decided I would get back into music. What really
matters is the family and time together.”
For
more information, go to www.homegrownstringband.com.
Ragged
but Right CD Bill DahlFall 2007 There's
something special about the music a family creates together. The
harmonies, the timing, the spirit breathe as one. And so it is with
Ragged But Right, the Homegrown String Band's latest album. Whether you
classify their sound as Americana, bluegrass, folk, or old-time
country, Rick Jackofsky, his wife Georgianne, and their daughters Erica
(a standout on fiddle) and Annalee are not only dedicated to keeping a
classic tradition alive, they're advancing it. Alongside the
traditional rural laments "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" and "Darlin'
Corey" are a clever tribute to the late Johnny Cash and the stark,
insightful original "Life Is Hard," each testifying to the power and
joy of music made by a real family
band.
–Bill Dahl
Ragged
but Right CD Review LI
Blues Society, Dr. Blues ReviewsFall 2007 The
Homegrown String Band has institutionalized the performance, creation
and support of America’s traditional musics. From the Appalachian
hollows to the rolling cotton of the rural South to West Texas vistas,
the landscapes of our indigenous musics are explored and conserved. A
family band, the tightness born of DNA is razor’s edge and the
musicianship is of the caliber of virtuosity. Ragged But Right explores
the roots of roots music. Opening with the sounds of Kentucky and
Tennessee’s eastern edges, bluegrass pours out with purity and joy as
they voyage. The sweetness of these organic sounds and their infectious
rhythms take you home. The disk opens with a soft reel from mountain
laurel country called “Goin’ ‘Round the World.” “Don’t Let Your Deal Go
Down” was soft and round and reminded me of Garcia/Grisman. “Take Me
Away” recounts a Civil War tale made even more poignant by the morass
we refer to as Iraq. The meat grinder of Cold Harbor isn’t that much
different from Baquba. “A Minor Catastrophe” is in a minor key in a
majorly entertaining way. “When the Apples Bloom in New York” is sad
and longing and feels like Gordon Lightfoot yet the following tribute
to Johnny Cash called “The Man Who Dressed in Black” cooks and shakes
and vibrates with primal energy. “Life Is Hard’ sweats inevitability in
a Robert Earl Keen fashion and the disk finishes with a rousing
“Darlin’ Corey.” This disk pours forth string mastery, emotional depth,
pulsing rhythms, and is a celebration of unikewity and that’s cool
because I love uneekness.—Dr. Blues
Rock
Hollow CD Review Sing
Out! magazineFall 2004 I
have to admit I have a soft place in my heart for family string bands,
I play in one and I have nothing but admiration for any family that can
travel the highways and work in the recording studio together and
produce fine music.
The
Homegrown String Band is really the Jackofsky family who live in Rocky
Point, New York out on Long Island. Rock Hollow was the original name
of their hometown and thus a title for this, their third and strongest
recording. The band, comprised of Rick Jackofsky on banjo, guitar,
harmonica and vocals, daughters Erica, on fiddle and vocals, and
Annalee, on mandolin, jawharp and vocals with wife/mother Georgianne on
banjo uke and mountain dulcimer, produce very sweet and lovely music.
It
is always interesting to trace the development of the youngsters in any
family band but I think the greatest development this time has been
with Rick’s vocals and instrumental performance. His steady guitar
drives tunes such as “Train on the Island” and “Down on my Knees”
giving daughter Erica a great foundation for her inventive fiddling.
His banjo playing is highlighted on “Liza Jane” and “The Ballad of Mary
Wyatt,” an original song based on an account of a murder in Berlin,
N.Y., in 1845. Another
standout is the original blues instrumental “Ackamarackus” by Erica. It
once again highlights her fiddling prowess but also features some fine
jawharp from sister Annalee and the steady banjo uke of Georgianne. In
case you’re wondering, the title was found in a book of New York slang
meaning nonsense, maybe it will come back into fashion again.
The
only criticism with Rock Hollow is the relative quiet afforded the
background vocals. They could have been beefed up, but that is a minor
quibble with a highly enjoyable recording by a real family band.—TD
What
People Are Saying About the Homegrown String Band Various “.
. . superbly talented . . . a warm feeling of camaraderie . . . playing
and dancing with an energy that could fill a festival stage. Their
devotion to their craft and way of life is obvious, and the audience
claps not only for their excellent performance, but for the simple fact
that this family is breathing fresh life into the American folk
tradition at a time when our nation’s roots are so often forgotten.” –
Sarah Craig, Manager, CaffË Lena
“Rock
Hollow . . . their third and strongest recording. Rick’s steady guitar
drives tunes such as “Train on the Island” and “Down on my Knees”
giving daughter Erica a great foundation for her inventive fiddling.
His banjo playing is highlighted on “Liza Jane” and “The Ballad of Mary
Wyatt.” Another standout is the original blues instrumental
“Ackamarackus” by Erica. It once again highlights her fiddling prowess
but also features some fine jawharp from sister Annalee and the steady
banjo uke of Georgianne. A highly enjoyable recording by a real family
band.” – Sing Out! magazine, fall 2004
“The
spirit of the Carter Family is alive and well in this Rocky Point NY
quartet.” – Brian Fostervold, “Shout Brother Shout,” WXCI
”The
Homegrown String Band has institutionalized the performance, creation
and support of America’s traditional musics. A family band, the
tightness born of DNA is razor’s edge and the musicianship is of the
caliber of virtuosity.” – Dr. Blues, LI Blues Society
“A
talented and unique family. The Homegrown String Band represents all
that is good with “Ole Time” music today. The simple joy of a family
making music together makes you wish you could be one of them. Once
again ranking as one of the most requested bands on the A.F.B.A.’s
festival questionnaire.” – AFBA bluegrass festival, Wind Gap PA
“The
Homegrown String Band has a true fiddle power house with daughter Erica
. . . an assured and infectious dance style that drives the eighteen
songs on Big Fork Little Fork, the band’s second CD. A particularly
heartfelt original, “Mama was a Radio,” transports the listener back to
the days of families gathering together to sing the old tunes . . .
they keep those old family musical traditions alive. Keep it up, you’re
doing just fine!” – Sing Out! magazine, fall 2002
“You
guys are really talented and I love the way you play the music as if it
were 1923 instead of 2003 . . . thanks for keeping the music alive . .
.” – Johnny Timewarp, WFCS
"Excuse
Me! These folks are a damn sight better than those skeleton
comparisons made by other fools who just can't embrace and
love these genuine folks for who they are. Come to Wisconsin,
my friends, we'll jam all night and if we don't see you in
the future we'll see you in the pasture." – Doc Mongoose
“Some
fine OT music . . . this one won’t gather dust.” – Bill Moffett, WCOJ
“Like
climbing into a cloud or a sweet spell of sound. It’s hard to describe
their music. Old time, Appalachian, string band, not Bluegrass exactly,
more Carter Family . . . a musicologist could tell you a lot about it
and the history of rural America it reflects.” – Paul Vitello, Newsday
“One
of the most refreshing, invigorating, and lively shows I’ve seen in a
while . . . a real American music experience.” – Suzanne Johnson, Asst.
Dir., Longwood Library
“Passion,
conviction, integrity, respect for tradition . . . You achieve a
delightfully individual approach to the material.” – Bruce Cameron,
“Come All Ye,” 2MCE-FM, Bathurst NSW Australia
“An
incredible old time string band!” – Little Toby Walker
“They
electrified our Hard Luck Cafe stage . . . wowed us with their
percussive flatfoot dancing.” – Folk Music Society of Huntington
“I
love all good music: classical, jazz, ethnic country; yours is the
best, together with Mozart, Satchmo, Masekela, etc. I congratulate you
all as members of a loving family—I believe that is what makes your
performance so moving.” – Gary Pleet
