Last Jam at the Archie Edwards Barbershop

Fri., Jan. 11, 2008

The Archie Edwards barbershop is closing. Not that the regulars will be missing any haircuts. This DC institution has been home to weekly BLUES jams for half a century. And it has become a place to learn the 'Piedmont' style of guitar picking from local musicians. This acoustic style incorporates elements of Ragtime and developed along the east coast in the early 20th century - from Virginia down to Georgia. The barbershop was owned by Piedmont blues master Archie Edwards and the weekly jams he established continued after his passing in 1998. But those musical get-togethers will soon be forced to move to a new venue. Stephanie Kaye spent time in this legendary home of the blues and lets us listen-in during one of the last Saturday afternoon jams.

Photo credits: Tony Washington