Matt Menefee won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship at Winfield, Kansas, in 2000, entered from Texas. He co-founded the progressive bluegrass band Cadillac Sky with Bryan Simpson in the mid-2000s. The two later reunited in Nashville as the Golden Age, and Menefee also plays in Wood Box Heroes.
Why Menefee matters
Menefee took contest-level banjo into an energetic progressive band. He is also an adventurous arranger, transcribing jazz and video game music for the banjo.
Life and career
Menefee won the Winfield banjo contest in 2000. With Bryan Simpson he co-founded Cadillac Sky, an energetic progressive bluegrass band, in the mid-2000s. Years later the two reunited in Nashville as the Golden Age. He is also a member of Wood Box Heroes, a bluegrass group of seasoned players.
Playing style
Menefee plays progressive three-finger banjo. He arranges music from outside bluegrass for the banjo, including a transcription of keyboardist Cory Henry’s solo on Snarky Puppy’s Lingus.
Influences and legacy
Menefee is one of the Winfield champions of the 2000s, beside Mike Sumner and Steve Lewis.
Awards and honors
National Bluegrass Banjo Championship, Walnut Valley Festival, first place (2000)
Watch and listen
Menefee plays a 1930s Gibson RB-6 at Carter Vintage Guitars.
What to learn from Menefee
Pick a melody from outside bluegrass, a jazz line or a theme song, and work it out on the banjo. The technique to steal is arranging. It stretches your ear and your fingers.
Sources
Walnut Valley Festival winners archive, alphabetical (PDF) Matt Menefee archives, Bluegrass Today
Related players
See the banjo players hub and the bluegrass banjo guide for more pickers. Menefee won Winfield in 2000, a year before Mike Sumner.