The African-descended banjer took the world by storm centuries ago, so we’ll expect more here.
Bob Johns gives us the homegrown folk of “The Christmas Banjo” as a Christmas present, and who give it him, and who made it, and on and on. It may surprise you that this is a short song.
Also a bit off-studio, William Evenhouse admits “I Want a Banjo for Christmas.” Okay, Boomer. Too earnest for bluegrass. But, some solid talent.
Dave Taylor invokes family again for “When Grandpa Played the Banjo.” This folk tune, however, does not behold the stringed whinger as gladly. Some nice strummin’.
Corny country from Ritchie Remo bequeaths unto us “Santa Played the Banjo.” The pop mush gives us a picking and grinning and tutoring Father Cee.
“Santa Gave Me A Banjo” gets us back to traditional bluegrass care of Self Rising Flour. Stately in its back-woodsery.
Box of Books gets more antic with “Banjo for Christmas.” This garage bluegrass can think of nothing better than this gift from Santa. Some silliness.
Also high-speed Spencer Chandler can’t stop gleefully celebrating how “Santa Claus Brought Me a 5-String Banjo.” It’s a bit ’70s gosh, a bit Sing Along with Mitch, a bit breakdown throw down. Whew.
Dan Cloutier takes another approach when he receives the unasked-for instrument. He is told “Yule Love the Banjo” in high speed folk. Apparently this is a family tradition. So it is enforced.
Steve and Bonnie Vetsch duet over a laundry list of wanna for Xmas, including how “I Want A Banjo For Christmas.” This CW grass leads me to believe Jesus played that thing. Huh.
Holy cats, but Bajazzerne rolls out the washboard jazz band–including midwestern scat–for the boggling “Santa Plays the Banjo.”
Buffalo Bill Boycott puts “The Christmas Banjo” in the hands of Daddy this time. Once he brushed off the coal dust. Sparkling bluegrass, with some schmaltz.
The Del McCoury Band featuring Ronnie McCoury revel in a “Bluegrass Christmas.” Guess which instruments get named for a proper holiday band?
Banjos get invoked late in the essential Sufjan Steves “Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” as a means of dance-party celebrating. But this indie boogie is infectious. Some fun.
Jed Marum brings it home with the humbly elegant “Banjos We Have Heard On High.” A share from Pete th’Elf, this bluegrass sways gently in the Christmas breeze.