John Reischman is a mandolin player and composer who grew up in Northern California and has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, since the early 1990s. He joined the Bay Area band the Good Ol’ Persons in 1978 and was an original member of the Tony Rice Unit. In 1999 he formed John Reischman and the Jaybirds. He is known for his tone, his taste, and his original tunes, like Salt Spring and Birdland Breakdown.
Why Reischman matters
Reischman is the model of the melodic mandolin player. He came up in the era of dawg music, when Tony Rice and David Grisman were bringing jazz into bluegrass, and he helped define the new acoustic sound on Tony Rice’s Rounder albums. He writes tunes that other pickers love to learn, and his playing shows that tone and taste can matter more than speed. His tune Itzbin Reel was learned by a young Chris Thile, who later recorded it with him.
Life and career
Reischman was born and raised in Northern California. He was drawn to Bill Monroe’s mandolin, and his heroes included Sam Bush, David Grisman, and jazz mandolinist Jethro Burns. In 1978 he joined the Good Ol’ Persons, a San Francisco band featuring Kathy Kallick and Sally Van Meter. In that supportive group he started writing tunes, and he recorded Itzbin Reel with them in 1983.
When Tony Rice started a new group after leaving David Grisman, he invited Reischman in after a short audition. Reischman’s first recording with Rice was Still Inside, and he played on Backwaters and tunes like Birdland Breakdown, his own composition. He kept playing with the Good Ol’ Persons during his years with Rice. In 1981 he bought a 1924 Gibson F-5, and it has been his main mandolin ever since.
In the early 1990s he moved to Vancouver. There he became a bandleader for the first time, forming John Reischman and the Jaybirds in 1999 with Jim Nunally, Nick Hornbuckle, Greg Spatz, and Trisha Gagnon. Their 2001 debut was followed by Field Guide, nominated for a Juno in 2003, and The Road West on Corvus. He played on the Grammy-winning True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe (1996), made three solo albums including Walk Along John (2013), and recorded Travellers (2004) with Butch Baldassari and Robin Bullock.
Playing style
Reischman’s sound starts with tone. His 1924 F-5 gives him a deep, woody voice, and he plays with a relaxed touch that lets every note bloom. His breaks are melodic first, with careful note choice and a gentle swing.
He also plays old-time tunes, Latin music, and jazz standards. A fan once gave him a tape of Puerto Rican jibaro music, and he learned tunes from it. In the Tony Rice Unit he played jazz standards like On Green Dolphin Street and My Favorite Things.
Influences and legacy
Reischman learned from the records of Bill Monroe, Sam Bush, David Grisman, and Jethro Burns. He has played beside Kathy Kallick, Sally Van Meter, Tony Rice, Todd Phillips, and the Jaybirds.
Chris Thile learned Itzbin Reel as a young fan and recorded it with him. Reischman made Travellers with Butch Baldassari.
Signature tunes and songs
Salt Spring Birdland Breakdown Itzbin Reel Joe Ahr’s Dream.
Essential recordings
Backwaters, with Tony Rice (Rounder) John Reischman and the Jaybirds (2001) Field Guide, with the Jaybirds The Road West, with the Jaybirds (Corvus) Walk Along John (2013)
Awards and honors
Grammy Award, as part of True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe (1996) Juno nomination, Best Roots and Traditional Recording, Field Guide, with the Jaybirds (2003)
Watch and listen
John Reischman and the Jaybirds play his tune Salt Spring. Listen to his tone on the slow melody.
What to learn from Reischman
Learn Salt Spring. It is slow, lyrical, and all about tone. Play it soft, with the pick close to the neck, and listen to how each note rings. Then play it louder with the pick near the bridge. Reischman’s music teaches you to treat tone as part of the tune.
Sources
John Reischman: Walking the melodic mandolin path, Bluegrass Unlimited California Report: John Reischman on early days, Tony Rice, and more, Bluegrass Today John Reischman and the Jaybirds interview, Rogue Folk John Reischman and the Jaybirds, Canmore Folk Music Festival John Reischman, Early Music Vancouver Conversations with John Reischman, The Bluegrass Situation
Related players
See the mandolin players hub and the mandolin guide. Reischman learned from David Grisman and Jethro Burns. Jimmy Gaudreau also played mandolin in the Tony Rice Unit. Mike Marshall is another West Coast melodic stylist.