-Flyer -Festinfo -Program -Photos -Membership -Instruction -Email -Links -Charlie Blacklock
Welcome to the International Musical Sawplayers Association website. Established in California in 1994, we publish the sawplayer's newsletter and also present the annual "Saw Player's Picnic and Music Festival" on the 2nd full weekend in August with a Saturday afternoon jam in Santa Cruz and the evening potluck/jam as well as the Sunday festival at Roaring Camp in Felton, California - www.roaringcamp.com
We had a wonderful festival in 2009 with many of our friends from Japan attending and playing on stage, as well as our good friends Patrick Weldon, Craig Paice from England, Peter Weiss, the singing scientist, the PT Wranglers and many others. Click on the photos for larger images; the one on the right is Miowako Kitamoto. On the left top is Rebecca Burgan and her ensemble and next to that is the Saturday Jam at the Tom Scribner statue
First place in the Saw Contest was awarded to Makoto Ogihara. His photo is next on the right:
Here's a selection from his cd which he wrote; piano by Jotaro Takahashi:
Another standout, Giriko Shimizu, brought her musicality and fun personality to the festival. A photo of her and Art Peterson is on the left and there's a YouTube link to her, with her extraordinary musical ensemble, "Hinemosu" (Giriko plays recorder and saw).
YouTube / Hinemosu with Giriko Shimizu
Referring to the photos below: The 1st photo is a picture of the Tom Scribner statue produced by artist Marghie McMahon, and permanently installed in Downtown Santa Cruz, California. Tom was the saw-playing lumberjack that the original "Festival of the Saws" was organized around in 1978 - he was a beloved and extremely talented sawyer. The 2nd picture is a photo of Tom himself. The 3rd picture is of Charlie Blacklock, legendary sawyer whose musical saws are sold world wide. Charlie organized the California Saw Players Association (which evolved into the International Musical Saw Association in 2003). Charlie is also featured in the "National Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame.” The 4th photo changes as we feature different members, and this time it is of Rosalyn Claret, 2009 Saw Contestant.
