The Musician’s Keen Eye: Photographs with Notes

**Marty Stuart at Berklee 2017**
This photo was taken as Marty spoke with students about early country and bluegrass music. The contrast of his face, hands and hair against his dark suit give this image a solemn feeling that tries to capture what a keen observer and reflective person Marty is.

**Maeve Gilchrest 2017**
Maeve was a Berklee student and later the first lever harpist to teach in the String Department. Lately she’s returned as a visiting artist. I like how the graceful curve of the frame of Maeve’s harp follows the curve of her arm.

**David Grisman 2016**
Taken during a performance by The David Grisman Sextet at Chevalier Theatre in Medford, MA. Stage lighting can create challenges but it can also offer possibilities. Shadows on one side of his face and dark background serve to emphasize the details and color in his face and mandolin.

**Ralph Stanley Farewell Tour 2013**
Taken at FreshGrass Festival in North Adams, Massachusetts. A seminal figure in bluegrass music, Stanley’s career spanned eight decades. This was his farewell tour. Photographed from the wings of the stage I tried to capture an intimate view of his response to applause at the end of his set. What makes this shot more special is the fact that the band member standing behind Ralph was his grandson, Ralph Stanley III.

**Nedelka Prescod 2015**
Jazz vocalist and Berklee faculty member, Nedelka Prescod performs Duke Ellington’s, Come Sunday in David Friend Recital Hall during a tribute concert put on by the Ensemble Department in honor of deceased colleague, Paul Ellman

**Matt Rubin with Dustbowl Revival 2017**
Trumpeter Matt Ruben on stage at Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA. This closeup uses the reflections in his glasses to show both the audience and performer.

**The Infamous Stringdusters at Green River Festival**
The Stringdusters feature two Berklee graduates, Chris Pandolfi on banjo and Andy Hall (partially hidden) on dobro. This shot was taken at the 2017 festival in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Chris’s expression combined with the tilt of the image tries to capture the intensity of the moment. I like photos of bands to give viewers the perspective of being on stage.

**George Massenburg Music Production and Engineering masterclass 2017**
World renown engineer and producer George Massenburg at the console during a recording session of a Berklee student ensemble.

**Chantel Hampton 2015**
Close cropping captures Ensemble Department faculty member Chantel Hampton’s expression in stunning profile.

**Del McCoury Band at Joe Val Bluegrass Festival 2016**
Taken at the 31st Annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival in Framingham, Massachusetts. L to R Ronnie McCoury, Jason Carter, Alan Bartram and Del McCoury singing four-part harmony on a gospel number. This shot is all about the emotion they put into their music.

**Ethan Setiawan in the studio 2017**
Berklee student, Setiawan 2019 recording in one of Berklee’s studios. The lighting and camera angle highlight Ethan’s features and place his face against a clean background.

**Chris Thile and Sarah Watkins 2014**
Nickel Creek’s Reunion Tour performance was the highlight of the 2014 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, New York. Shot from the wings, this shot gives the appearance that Chris and Sarah are dancing and about to take to the air.

**Darol Anger 2016**
Taken as Darol was coming off stage at Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. Intensely colored stage lighting and backdrop produce a somewhat abstract image of the Berklee faculty fiddler.

**Skip Smith 2015**
Contrast and light focused on Skip’s face capture him feeling the groove. The strong angular lines of the neck of his bass give this composition a three-dimensional appearance.

**George Marsh 2016**
This shows the intense concentration on George’s face during a concert with the David Grisman Sextet. The colors and shapes surrounding his illuminated face and hands behind his cymbals are the basis of this composition.

**Kim Perlak 2018**
Kim Perlak, Chair of the Guitar Department hunched over her guitar, the neck of her instrument dissects this frame diagonally. Kim’s face and hands stand out against the neutral tones.

**Ron Mahdi 2015**
Contrasting shapes, lines and textures fill the frame and highlight Ron’s focus and his powerful hand.

**Revolutionary Snake Ensemble on parade in Davis Square 2016**
Ken Field, in gold, leads his troupe down Holland Street, followed by people who came out to commemorate the closing of a 47-year institution of Boston’s music scene, Johnny D’s Uptown. Bright colors, motion blur and wide angle distortion reflect the festive spirit of day.

**Mike Williams 2018**
Faculty guitarist Williams playing the blues on a 2018 tribute to longtime faculty member and friend, John Marasco.

**The Ruta Beggars 2019**
A Berklee Bluegrass band was a hit at the 2019 International Bluegrass Association, World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh, NC. Shooting from the side of the stage with a 200mm lens compresses the look of the photo and also helps avoid mics covering people’s faces. The smiles on their faces speak to the joy they always bring to their shows.

DAVID HOLLENDER, PROFESSOR, BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC

Experience playing and teaching bass and banjo, including jazz, classical, and roots music.

Born in Evanston, IL, Dave lived in Syracuse, NY, Philadelphia, PA and Nashville, TN while growing up. He received a B.M. from Berklee College of Music and M.M. New England Conservatory. He studied privately on banjo with Béla Fleck and Tony Trischka; bass with Edwin Barker, BSO and Todd Seeber, BSO

Dave joined the Berklee faculty in 1987. He teaches ensembles, bass, banjo. In 2002 he introduced bluegrass to Berklee’s ensemble program and helped spearhead efforts that led to the addition of banjo and mandolin to the list of principal instruments students may study. He has taught at Mark O’Connor’s String Camp and presented clinics and workshops at Grey Fox, Joe Val and FreshGrass Bluegrass Festivals, and IBMA World of Bluegrass.

Performances, recordings:
Performed with Mark O’Connor, Wayfaring Strangers, Haneke Cassel, John McGann, Diana Krall, Joe Williams, Ernestine Anderson, Tiernie Sutton, Heather Masse, Darol Anger, John Blake, Herb Pomeroy, The Shangri-La’s, Patti Page, J. Geils, Claude Williams.
Played at Carnegie Hall and Symphony Hall, Boston, Montreal Jazz Festival and the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Huntington Theater, Charles Playhouse, Majestic Theater. Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 1990-2010 – concerts with Yo Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, and William Warfield, Sharon Isbin; Portland Symphony, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra.

Publications:
Co-author of Beyond Bluegrass Banjo, Berklee Press
Contributor to Banjo Newsletter

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The Musician’s Keen Eye: Photographs with Notes