Paul Draper

United States

depuis une vie antérieure

Profile Information:

How did you find out about Ning Minstrel Banjo?
a friend
What kind of banjo(s) do you own?
Hartel-Boucher, Moschella gourd, nameless flushfret, Bart Reiter fretless, GT Whyte Laydie

Comment Wall:

  • Al Smitley

    Hello Paul.   That was a first.  It was pretty impromptu.  We went out to eat afterward and we talked about maybe doing it some more.

    While eating, your name came up.  I commented about your right hand.  You make a lot of music but your right hand hardly moves.  Your right hand reminds me of Kevin Burke's left hand.  I listened to a lot of his recordings and then when I finally went to see him in concert, his left hand hardly moved!  It was hard to know how he could get all those notes in there that way.  Very efficient!

    Nov 23, 2011

  • Bob Winans

    Glad to accept your friend request, Paul. And I hope you enjoy working on some of the variations from my presentation. I am thinking of posting the handout on this site so others can see it as well.

    Jun 28, 2012

  • Mark Weems

    That would be great, Bob. Somehow I've misplaced my folder from the weekend!

    Jun 28, 2012

  • Barbara Mullin

    Thanks, Paul ;o}

    Apr 23, 2014

  • John Cohen

    It was a great pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to playing more with you next year!

    Jun 23, 2014

  • Marek Bennett

    Great to meet you, too Paul... and to hear your fine playing on several different instruments!

    Jun 23, 2014

  • Ambrose Verdibello

    Thanks Paul - I'm looking forward to playing some of these pieces with you - you're an inspiration.

    Aug 28, 2014

  • Jean Louis Thiry

    Merci Paul, glad to be there !

    Mar 5, 2015

  • Nicholas A Bechtel

    Hey Paul,,it has been a while...about last summer I started getting into the Dobro and then the Lap Steel..slowly found my self with a Pedal steel Guitar...been focusing on that, then started wanting to get back into my minstrel banjo. Its cool I spent about two and half years getting into it and all that practicing and learning songs, and its like I never left...I love the sound...been going around and checking out everyone's videos again, right now I am recouping from a hernia operation so I can't play my banjo yet just been learning Irish jigs on my Mandolin. I see you have a new Banjo.

    Mar 29, 2015

  • Ian Bell

    Will do, Paul. I'm looking forward to the weekend. (I get to be "Great Lakes Guy") I'm also playing at Havre Le Grace Maritime Museum near Baltimore on Wednesday evening.

    Jun 6, 2015

  • Wes Merchant

    Cool Ian, I let my friends in Baltimore know. Just a small point it's Havre De Grace and down here it's pronounced Haverdy Grace, now you can sound like a local. 

    Jun 6, 2015

  • Ian Bell

    Hey Paul,
    I did get to pass on your greetings to George Ward at Mystic. We were in a "contemporary songs" workshop together. We were the "freshwater reps" at the festival. George is an interesting guy. He said you were putting together some banjo music for something he was working on. Mystic was the best folk festival I've been to in ages - possibly ever. Four days of non-stop harmony singing just makes you want more! It was well worth all the driving. Havre De Grace was fun too. The museum there actually reminded me a bit of the one I worked at in Port Dover for so long. Plus there were crab cakes on the dock!

    Jun 20, 2015

  • Scott Miller

    Paul, It was great meeting you at AEBG 2015. Looking forward to the next time we can jam again.

    Jun 24, 2015