CA: Freddie Roulette at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 30 Mar 2007 7:18 am

I originally should have been here instead of Steel w/o pedals

I want to update youall on the project I'm doing with Freddie Roulette.
I met Freddie last year at the stunning first annual Slide and Steel workshop at the Centrum campus in Port Townsend, WA. (They're taking reservations for this June and I recommend it highly-- www.centrum.org)Since last summer, David Siegler and I have met with Freddie a few times to discuss producing material that would make his unique playing style and technique accessable to other players. We wanted to know what he does and how he does it. We thought we might try to make a straight teaching video, but we ended up settleing on more of a interview, rehearsal, concert format. We will be shooting his hands on the guitar rehearsing/teaching his regularly performed material with a new band.

We will then present Freddie and the band, in concert with Patti Maxine, Bruce Wandmayer, Bill Leff, And Charlie Wallace at The Kuumbwa Jazz center in Santa Cruz on April 6th. Lapstravaganza is designed to present the range of the lapsteel to the audience, as well as to highlight Freddie as the blues inovator that he is.

Checkout our poster on the CruzTone website. Send me an email if you want a poster.

Request: Does anyone have any Nick Manoloff steel guitar instruction books? Freddie says that's where he learned to play. I'd like to peruse those books. My guess is Freddie added something, though. Laughing

Colin Alder
www.cruztonesteel.com

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 30 Mar 2007 3:00 pm

Freddie was a hit at ISGC a several years ago, but a lot of the attendees probably didn't like him because he didn't play any country shuffles. Jimmy Day was even copping his licks. I hadn't played much blues style music back then, but I play quite a bit now. I would like to hear him again.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 30 Mar 2007 4:31 pm

Freddie moved out here I believe from Chicago quite a few years ago now, and I would designate him to officially be a Bay Area treasure!

Andy Taub · Post by **Andy Taub** » 30 Mar 2007 9:04 pm

Can you tell me what make of lap that Freddie plays? He had a single neck six that was interesting a few years back because it had a switch that selected between different pickups that he actually used often to great effect- It was clearly a vintage axe, but I haven't seen one like it...

Thanks

I've also seen him play a four neck stringmaster with 3 necks strung and one with an ashtray and drink holder.

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 31 Mar 2007 7:45 am

Freddie told me this is the third identical 8 string Dynamic he has owned since he started playing in his teens. He also has a matching D8 Dynamic with two pickups on each neck that he says David Lindley found for him. There's a groove about 1/4" deep worn into the wood under his pinky finger.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 31 Mar 2007 10:43 am

REMOVED

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 31 Mar 2007 1:02 pm

I stand corrected on the National model

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 1 Apr 2007 4:42 pm

REMOVED

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 2 Apr 2007 2:52 pm

REMOVED

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 2 Apr 2007 3:04 pm

Anything "new" being introduced at the show ???

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 3 Apr 2007 5:21 pm

I really enjoy Freddie Roulette's style of steel playing, I have one of his Cd's and his version of sleepwalk gets my attention, I wish I new what tunning he is using, great Job Freddie.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 4 Apr 2007 7:45 am

REMOVED

Bob Maickel · Post by **Bob Maickel** » 4 Apr 2007 5:37 pm

I had heard of the great Freddie Roulette but had never heard him play until he performed at Scotty's convention many years ago. I sensed that it was hard for that particular audience to accept his musical style on lap steel, but they did enjoy his styling and artistry. Before his set, Freddie got a plate of food from the hotel buffet and was wandering about looking for a place to sit down and eat. I spotted him approaching our PSGA booth and immediately invited him to sit down and join us so he could enjoy his meal in a civilized manner.

What a gentleman. I enjoyed meeting and talking with a humble musician who played the most innovative lap steel I had heard in a long time. (With all due respect to Jerry Byrd, Jody Carver, Roy Wiggins and Don Helms and the many others I idolized when I was starting out on lap steel in the 1950's). Freddie is a treasure. I am glad to know that he is still performing in his innovative style and sharing his expertise with those who choose to learn from him. You can tell a good steel player by at least the second note he picks.

I'd also like to know how to contact Freddie.

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 4 Apr 2007 5:47 pm

I would love to learn how to play the way Freddie plays on a six string lap steel or at least have a unique sound like that, I also want to get in touch with him to take lessons and learn at least some tunes like sleepwalk with a blues flare to it.

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 5 Apr 2007 6:36 am

Michael Lee would you drop me an email when you have a chance Thanks

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 5 Apr 2007 7:16 am

Rick A wroteAnything "new" being introduced at the show ???

Rick is referring to our new h'shoe replacement pickup. It has Rick's magnets, Jason's bobbin and a sleek chrome plated cover that I designed. I have the prototype inhand, but work on this show has delayed it's test drive for another week or so. I'll have photos soon.

re: Learning Freddie's techniques,
The inspiration for this project was to more clearly understand how Freddie gets his sound. Mike Johnstone is shooting and editing this video. So stay tuned. I'm confident we'll have something you'll want to see.

Tickets are still available. The phone# on the online poster is one digit off 831-466-9224

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 5 Apr 2007 6:03 pm

REMOVED

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 6 Apr 2007 11:00 am

Our Rehearsal and video shoot went beautifully yesterday. Come on down to this show. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

David Trabue · Post by **David Trabue** » 24 Nov 2007 10:41 am

I have an 8 string National that looks identical to Freddie's, except that it has the Roman Numeral fret markers.

Do you think it is also the 1010?

Thanks,
Dave

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 26 Nov 2007 5:35 am

I was at STL when Freddie played, too and it was mind blowing.
I'm not surprised that a lot of the audience there didn't enjoy his style...if it isn't 50 year old country music, they're very hard to please (myself excluded!!)

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 26 Nov 2007 10:19 pm

I'm putting this on my calendar! Sounds like a great night, and I would get a chance to hear my friend Patti Maxine play as well!

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CA: Freddie Roulette at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz

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