For almost 20 years, my family and I have resided in the beautiful, green, rolling Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, 37 miles due north of Williamsport, whose music scene has given opportunities to so many musicians over the years. If the sight of gargantuan mountains and freshly harvested farm fields and the serenity of the culture that has informed its inhabitants for generations appeals to you, it is a wonderful place to live.

Williamsport, a city of around 30,000 people bordered by the Susquehanna River, has a rich, vibrant and varied history. It is also a city of some international fame because every year since the 1940’s, Williamsport has hosted the Little League World Series. Every August, ball players from every corner of the globe descend upon this small city to play what can only be called “America’s Game”.

Williamsport was also known in the previous generation as a logger’s city. Millionaires, made so by the logging industry surrounding this fine city, were in plentiful supply. In fact, there is a stretch of palatial homes in one portion of the city called “Millionaires Row”. The Endless Mountains helped to supply loggers and their mills with timber for generations. The logs would be harvested from our mountains and floated down the Susquehanna River to the mills for which they were intended. This industry has all but died off compared to what it used to be. To any interested persons, photographic and literary documentation survive in the archives of the James V. Brown Library and the Logging Museum. If you are ever in this wonderful little city, make sure these stops are on your itinerary.

Williamsport is the home of many wonderful musicians, most of whom I am privileged to call my friends. Guitarists, wind players, percussionists, string players of all sorts and of varying levels of virtuosity may be found within its precincts. The Williamsport Symphony, which performs at the Community Arts Center, is comprised by many of the top orchestral personnel in the area; most maintain professional careers in their craft and also teach either privately or at local universities.

Williamsport is also known for its local jazz, blues and folk scene. Home to “The Billtown Blues Festival” there are many talented blues players in this area. My friend Chris Bovard is one of them. Guitarist for the Blind Chitlin’ Kahunas, Chris is a fine example of the blues played to perfection. Every note from the guitar comes directly from this man’s great heart, thru his fingers to the ears of his audience. While Chris does not play to impress the crowd with his ample virtuosity, the audience is always impressed when this fine band of bluesmen takes the stage. I have seen many people walking away, shaking their heads in amazement at the wonder of what they have just heard. I have long admired this band and been envious of my friend Chris. In fact I have been running around Williamsport for many years trying to catch his hand in my car door; he is simply that good. My brother guitarists, Rick Nordstrom and Dave Brumbaugh round out a full-bodied range of blues playing that in my opinion is second to none. I am proud to know each of these fine musicians and consider them my friends and in many ways my mentors.

The jazz scene in Williamsport is as good as it gets. There is a bountiful supply of great jazzers here. While many groups may be noteworthy, the combo of note in my book is “Jazzin’”. This gathering of the area’s finest jazzmen (Ken Wittman - bass, Bob Liedecker - percussion, Rob Byham – trumpet/arranger, Dick Adams – tenor sax, Steve Adams - keyboard) can bebop with the ghost of Charlie Parker as well as fuse the different styles of jazz in a manner reminiscent of Chic Corea.

All of these guys are accomplished players whom I have had the privilege of knowing and on occasion playing with for many years. Ken Wittman, the bassist in the group, crafts handmade electric basses for players worldwide. His list of distinguished clients is impressive. He is also the inventor of the “Spin Strap”. Have you ever seen “ZZ Top” spin their guitars? That’s my buddy Ken at work. The strap is also good for the player’s health. This spine-saving invention evenly distributes the weight of an instrument in an ergonomically correct fashion, thus eliminating back problems for players of heaver instruments. As you can see, the depth of the music scene in Williamsport is great!

The Bullfrog Brewery has long been a sponsor of quality music since its inception more than a decade ago. National acts as well as local ones have found a hearty reception to their music amidst the glass and beer vats that contribute to the unique atmosphere of this venue. I’ve been fortunate to play there several times each year since they opened their doors.

Bullfrog Brewery

The Bullfrog is more than just a gig for me. It has been a home to me and many of my brother and sister musicians throughout the years. From their huge selection of delicious beers, brewed on site and right before your eyes, to the diverse offerings on their menu or the music one might hear on any given night, it’s a sure bet that a visit to this enchanting place will make a good night into a great night. The Koch family has created a place where the lines of good food, good music and good times intersect. When visiting Williamsport, be sure to visit the Bullfrog Brewery and (if I’m playing) say hello.

As you can plainly see, the music scene in the Williamsport area is incredibly diverse. Time and space would fail me if I attempted to mention the contributions of local university music programs (Mansfield, Bucknell, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College) and other musical venues like The Cell Block, The Coffee and Tea Room, and Franco’s to name only a few. If you ever visit this wonderful city, make sure you see the places and hear the players I have mentioned. In this city of “Logs and Frogs” you will taste and hear the buzz of a great art scene, set in one of the prettiest, historical and diverse cities on the East Coast, and inhabited by some of the nicest people anywhere on earth.