D'Jalma Garnier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
D'Jalma Garnier
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In New Orleans, Louisiana 2007
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| Background information | |
| Genres | Creole, Cajun, zydeco |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, disc jockey |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, fiddle, bass |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels | Green Linnet, Arhoolie |
| Associated acts | Jeffery Broussard and Creole Cowboys Zydeco, Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole, Joe Hall, East of Eden Band spoken word, and many more |
D'Jalma Garnier is a talented musician and composer. He is especially known for playing the fiddle in Creole and Cajun music styles. He also creates unique "outside" musical pieces and works with many other artists.
Contents
About D'Jalma Garnier
A Family of Musicians
D'Jalma Garnier comes from a very musical family. His grandfather, D'Jalma Thomas Garnier, was a famous early jazz musician in New Orleans. He played the trumpet, piano, and violin. People even say he taught the legendary Louis Armstrong when Armstrong was a boy!
D'Jalma Garnier has a younger brother named Tony Garnier. Tony is also a professional musician and has been the band leader and bass player for Bob Dylan's band since 1989. D'Jalma, Tony, and their cousin Stephen "Stevo" Théard are the only family members to become professional musicians, carrying on their grandfather's amazing musical legacy.
Learning and Teaching Music
D'Jalma Garnier has been featured in many articles and documentaries about Louisiana Creole music. He plays both the fiddle and guitar. He has performed and recorded with many top Creole musicians.
He spent two years studying and performing with Canray Fontenot, a famous fiddle player who won a special award for his traditional music. D'Jalma has also taught Creole fiddle playing at many workshops and camps, both in the United States and other countries.
Beyond Traditional Music
Even though D'Jalma Garnier is well-known for his work with zydeco and Cajun bands, he also studies the music and culture of French-speaking Louisiana. He explores different kinds of music, including modern and electronic styles.
He can play many instruments, like bass, guitar, and fiddle, in various music types. He has even worked with poets, performing and recording with famous writers like Allen Ginsberg. D'Jalma also hosts a radio show called Passport to Modern Jazz on KRVS-FM. On his show, he introduces listeners to new and exciting jazz artists.
Learning to Play Creole Fiddle
A Special Music Book
In 2009, a company called Mel Bay released a book by D'Jalma Garnier. This book is a "method book," which means it teaches you how to play. It includes 14 songs by master Creole fiddle players. The book also comes with a DVD that shows how to play the songs.
The songs in the book were chosen because they are either easy for beginners, written by a master with many ways to play them, or cover related music styles. The book teaches you step-by-step how to play the music, including special tricks.
Unique Sheet Music
D'Jalma Garnier created sheet music for many classic Creole folk songs. This is very special because these songs were usually passed down by ear, from one player to another, without written notes.
The book shares important songs from Louisiana's traditional music. It features a lot of the music of the late Canray Fontenot, including five of his own songs and a video clip. D'Jalma also included two of his own songs. The rest are by other pioneer Louisiana fiddlers like Amédé Ardoin, Bébé Carrière, and Dennis McGee, as well as zydeco favorite Boozoo Chavis.
Fiddle Techniques and Tips
The method part of the book explains how to play the Creole fiddle. It covers techniques like "bowing" (how to move the bow), "cross bowing" (playing across different strings), "fingering" (where to place your fingers), "double stops" (playing two notes at once), and "scratching" (a special rhythmic bowing technique). These tips help you learn to play in the unique Louisiana style.
Besides learning to play solo, the book also gives advice on playing with other musicians. It teaches you how to work with accordion players, a second fiddle, and guitarists. It also gives tips on how to start a song when playing in a group and how to use amplification for your instrument.
