Jam Session: Folks Singers Converge on New City

Musicians from all over the tri-state area converged on New City Sunday for a big singing party and jam hosted by The Borderline Folk Music Club of Rockland County at the New City Ambulance Corps.

Sol Zeller, founder of The Borderline Folk Music Club along with the Folk Music Society of New York, said the free picnic and singing jam was dedicated to Jean Ritchie, famous American Folk singer and Appalachian dulcimer player. Ritchie, who suffered a stroke last year, held an annual picnic at her home in Port Franklin, N.Y., in the name of American Folk music.

"It's going fantastic, there is a very good turnout and we even have vendors for the first time," said Zeller. The goal at this event was the same as Jean Ritchie's goal: spread the joy of American Folk music.

"Jean wanted it to be a free event and we are going to keep it that way," said Zeller.

A number of musicians, young and old, stepped up to the microphone and delivered their own version of many classic folk songs. Roger Sprung, well-known American banjo player credited with introducing bluegrass music to the folk scene in the North and playing the banjo electrically, was also on hand and available to jam with in a small group away from the main stage.

Steve Suffet and his wife Marilyn, both on the Board of Directors of the Folk Music Society of New York, have been attending Ritchie's picnics for years, and with the folk icon falling ill, they were both glad to see the traditional picnic and singing jam continue on.  The Folk Music Society of New York holds many events throughout the New York area.

"There are tons of events, maybe 30 or 40 a year. House concerts, regular concerts, picnics and teaching workshops on traditional music," said Marilyn Suffett.

Ritchie's son Jon Pickow was on hand at the event. He brought the instrument he grew up on and the instrument his mother is most famous for, the Appalachian dulcimer. Jon played a song with the dulcimer like a professional. Which is no surprise because when asked about the interesting instrument, Jon responded, "Oh, it's a Mountain Dulcimer, I've been playing it all my life. I grew up with it being around the house." His mother wrote The Dulcimer Book in 1974, which is still regarded as one of the authorities on the instrument.

With such a rich tradition, American folk music was recognized and remembered Sunday in New City. Zeller looks to keep the tradition of a free-to-the-community picnic and singing jam that was started by Ritchie going. As of now, the New City Ambulance Corps will provide the venue for the event again next August.

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