Email: cw@cwrootsmusic.com 775-636-2030
Thanks for stopping by! Here you will find information on music, books, talks, and other things. These days, when I play guitar, I mostly perform old jazz songs or songs I have written in the old jazz style. By old jazz style, I mean the song-composition methods of the 1920s. For me, that was the high point of American song composition. Sometimes I play an archtop guitar with a pickup. Sometimes I play a National guitar and mic it. I play harmonica along with the guitar. Most of my historical research these days has focused on the origins of jazz, which I feel have been misconstrued. See the book “Jazz Water” on my books page; link below.
LINK TO CW’S BOOKS
UPCOMING TALKS:
ANDRONICO VALLEJO, THE GENERAL’S BOHEMIAN SON AND HIS GUITAR. January 21, 2027 to the California State Park Sonoma Barracks Theater. 36 East Spain Street, 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Join us as we present a PowerPoint presentation with musician and writer CW Bayer as he leads us through the fascinating story of Professor Andronico Vallejo and his California parlor guitar. His research began with the discovery of the Professor’s great work—a volume of parlor guitar pieces that had sat on the shelf in the Vallejo house for over 100 years. We learn about the tense relationship between General Vallejo and his oldest son, and about the role of the Spanish Fandango tune in creating the broad popularity of the guitar in America.
TRACING EARLY JAZZ WITH RECORDS. February 2027, with the Sonoma Historical Society: In this one-hour talk, CW Bayer plays old records on a gramophone as he outlines the story of early jazz music from 1908 into the 1930s. Some of this involves local history—the technical innovations that first defined jazz music occurred in California. And, Sonoma contributed the word, “jazz”. More info soon.
The CALIFORNIA HISTORY THEATER–shows and talks by CW Bayer and George Webber. Currently featuring the detailed overview of California settlement called “Eight Flags Over California”
SOME VIDEOS FROM WAY BACK WHEN
MORE FROM BYGONE DAYS
Link to The Coyote Puppet Theater shows with songs. From 2000 to 2005, the Coyote Puppet Theater traveled Nevada’s backroads each summer, performing songs at small libraries. Chris and Danita Bayer composed the music. The Nevada State Library system supported this work with yearly grants to promote literacy.
Some of CW’s old Nevada songs.
