I must say Cora and Breda Smyth, I think they are good. Went to see them at an opening ceremony playing with Seamus Begley. Give me time to think about others.
Alisdair Fraser, Aly Bain, John McCusker, Liz Carrol and Natalie McMaster. At least those are the ones whose albums I own the most of.
(Ooops, none from Ireland, I guess that makes me a heretic.)
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Stephane Grappelli.
(Just kidding)
I'm also somewhat of a heretic, Al.
Top 5 "Celtic":
Alasdair Fraser
Annbjorg Lien (Norwegian, but still sounds "Celtic" to me)
Bonnie Rideout (**blush**)
Altan (2 for 1)
Maire Breatnach
Top 5 "almost 'Celtic', but not quite":
David LaFlamme
Moritz Behm
Alison Krauss (I know, she actually plays a viola)
Mary Ramsey (also a violist)
whoever plays for Nickel Creek (can't remember the name)
~ a fiddler from Iles de la Madeleine whose name escapes me ~ damn he was good ~
Mary (Beaton) MacDonald ~ how sweet ~
Mike MacDougall
Lee Cremo
~ and there was this other Cape Breton fiddler, from the Loughs area of Cape Breton, in the southwest, but his name also escapes me ~ he was anti-union, which meant for some things he was 'passed over' ~
Con Cassidy
Mick Hoy
Con Foley ~ ~ ~ ~ that's what is coming to mind on the spur of the moment, but sorry, no, I just can't hold it down to just five... Besides, most of my favourites have either never been commercially recorded ~ or, if they have, their recordings are no longer available. As you'll know, a recording just can't capture the thing as it is live...even better when there's a bit of dance happening too... Some of my favourite fiddlers had a certain shyness about them and many hated playing if there weren't dancers there to answer back...
Hey Ceolachan, is the fiddle player from Les Isles Bertrand Desrasp or Félix LeBlanc? Just curious, a couple of great players that make their way to parties over here from time to time, especially Bertrand and his brother Patrice that plays guitar.
A quick Web surf shows that Bob is right. I have an older Alison Krauss album in which she is credited with viola, but she has apparently switched over to regular fiddle since then.
Liz and Yvonne Kane
Oisin Mac Diarmada
Eilish Lennon
Liz Carroll
The Fiddler in Lunasa
and Mary Bergin (Yes, not a typo, Mary Bergin, hilarious story behind this that will be told at a later time!!!)
Mine are: Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes, Eileen Ivers, Natalie MacMaster, Alison Krauss (She plays the fiddle, not the viola!) Vanessa Mae, Liz Carroll, Vassar Clements, and Regina Carter. OK...That's more than 5, but that's about all of them!
top of anyones list has to be martin hayes. he plays his music both fast and slow. his technique is unrivalled. flawless music. he can incorporate soft and loud tone in tunes like no one else. does anybody not like him?
David's doing well here!
Though I should point out that I interpreted 'favourite fiddle players' more in the sense of 'favourite to play with', than 'favourite to hear on vinyl' - (Ooops, nearly gave my age age away there!), er, I mean - favourite to download onto my IPod - phew!
wait wait wait, you have a copy of John playing on an old CCE tape? send it to me, slainte-san, send it to me! Plllllleeeeeeeeeaaaase?!? I'll trade you something for it!
Er...should I be jealous of Lizzydoe? And does she know Blayne Chastain from when he was at UoL as well?
Kenny sent me an original copy of Harry Bradley's first solo album for nothing some months ago, and I sent him a copy of the tape to him in return. Yeah, he would still keep it if you could destroy mine, John.
Aw -- Kenny's so lovely with that sort of thing...he's given me a couple of tapes that I haven't been able to listen to yet, as I'd have to unearth a tape-recorder to do it with! Sad of me, isn't it? Now that you've reminded me, perhaps I'll do that this week, if i can find one of them out in the garage...
Anyway, I'll see if I can get a copy of that tape -- if not, I'm going to come a-lookin' for you, slainte-san!
Zina, I will email them. That's a really lovely recording with seriously good ceili band sets and hard shoe steps, and I've been thinking I could get another copy or two for someone like "ceolachan."
Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Who is your favourite 5 Fiddle players? OK i Know its a broad question but still!...
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Fiddle nut
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
I must say Cora and Breda Smyth, I think they are good. Went to see them at an opening ceremony playing with Seamus Begley. Give me time to think about others.
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Sarfly
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Pete Clark. Ian Fraser. Buddy McMaster. Liz Carroll. Ciaran MacTourish (spelling?).
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
My choice today is:
Tommy Peoples, Paddy Glackin, Brian Rooney, James Cullinan, John Carty.
Ask me again tomorrow and the selection might be different. But Tommy Peoples would still be in the list.
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by DaveL35
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Alisdair Fraser, Aly Bain, John McCusker, Liz Carrol and Natalie McMaster. At least those are the ones whose albums I own the most of.
(Ooops, none from Ireland, I guess that makes me a heretic.)
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Stephane Grappelli.
(Just kidding)
I'm also somewhat of a heretic, Al.
Top 5 "Celtic":
Alasdair Fraser
Annbjorg Lien (Norwegian, but still sounds "Celtic" to me)
Bonnie Rideout (**blush**)
Altan (2 for 1)
Maire Breatnach
Top 5 "almost 'Celtic', but not quite":
David LaFlamme
Moritz Behm
Alison Krauss (I know, she actually plays a viola)
Mary Ramsey (also a violist)
whoever plays for Nickel Creek (can't remember the name)
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Drop_D_Chalupa
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Five is it you want - it's tough to narrow it down that far but how about:
Still breathing:
Paddy Canny
Tommy Peoples
Patrick Ourceau
Kevin Burke
Liz & Yvonne Kane
Passed on:
Bobby Casey
Junior Crehan
Tommy Potts
Padrig O'Keefe
John Doherty
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by RogueFiddler
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Ooohhh fun. I was just reassessing this for myself the other day but still keep coming back to the same gang:
Martin Byrnes
Paddy Cronin
Julia Clifford
Patrick Kelly
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by _Steph_
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Tommy Potts,Kevin Burke,Martin Hayes(surprised he hasn't had a mention yet).....ummmmm I'm sure there's more but can't think right now
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by meri-lawes
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Oh yeah Paddy Glackin
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by meri-lawes
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Liz Carroll
Frankie Gavin
Tommy Peoples
Sean Smyth
Winifred Horan
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by locrian
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
~ a fiddler from Iles de la Madeleine whose name escapes me ~ damn he was good ~
Mary (Beaton) MacDonald ~ how sweet ~
Mike MacDougall
Lee Cremo
~ and there was this other Cape Breton fiddler, from the Loughs area of Cape Breton, in the southwest, but his name also escapes me ~ he was anti-union, which meant for some things he was 'passed over' ~
Con Cassidy
Mick Hoy
Con Foley ~ ~ ~ ~ that's what is coming to mind on the spur of the moment, but sorry, no, I just can't hold it down to just five... Besides, most of my favourites have either never been commercially recorded ~ or, if they have, their recordings are no longer available. As you'll know, a recording just can't capture the thing as it is live...even better when there's a bit of dance happening too... Some of my favourite fiddlers had a certain shyness about them and many hated playing if there weren't dancers there to answer back...
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Hey Ceolachan, is the fiddle player from Les Isles Bertrand Desrasp or Félix LeBlanc? Just curious, a couple of great players that make their way to parties over here from time to time, especially Bertrand and his brother Patrice that plays guitar.
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by anastasiadesroches
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Like most people, my list depends a lot on who I’m listening to or thinking about lately. So…
Aly Bain
Tommy Peoples
Brian Conway
Kevin Burke
Liz Kane
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Oh, I'm pretty sure Allison Krauss mainly plays fiddle, not viola.
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
A quick Web surf shows that Bob is right. I have an older Alison Krauss album in which she is credited with viola, but she has apparently switched over to regular fiddle since then.
Please forgive me for living in the past.
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Drop_D_Chalupa
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
As far as I know, D_D_C, she's always been a fiddler, but probably dabbled in viola, too.
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Em, today it would have to be,
Liz and Yvonne Kane
Oisin Mac Diarmada
Eilish Lennon
Liz Carroll
The Fiddler in Lunasa
and Mary Bergin (Yes, not a typo, Mary Bergin, hilarious story behind this that will be told at a later time!!!)
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by galway-fiddle
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Crossing a few generations...
Brendan McGlinchey
Sean Casey
Jamie Smith
Michael Coleman
John Gillard Snr
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Just a person
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Sean Smyth
Tom Morrow
Oisin MacAuley
Frankie Gavin
Manus McGuire
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Why Bother?
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Hey, Galway, can Mary shred a fiddle like she can a whistle? If so, she could probably give Moritz Behm a run for his money!
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Drop_D_Chalupa
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Tommy Peoples
Kevin Burke
Tara Connaghton
Michelle Powderly
Dave Sherridan
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by Backer
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Mine are: Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes, Eileen Ivers, Natalie MacMaster, Alison Krauss (She plays the fiddle, not the viola!) Vanessa Mae, Liz Carroll, Vassar Clements, and Regina Carter. OK...That's more than 5, but that's about all of them!
# Posted on June 27th 2006 by irishfiddler
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Liz Carroll
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh
Ciaran Tourish
Tommy Peoples
John Doherty
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Red Crow
Not really in that order though, It's hard to choose.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Red Crow
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
James Kelly
Kim Vincent
TommyKevinFrankieLizCJohnC
oops! too many
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by beanatiarlar
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Bobby Casey
Denis Murphy
Brendan Mulvihill
Matt Cranitch
Carl McKenzie
etc....
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by John Culhane
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
What about John Carty??
Pretty much all my other favourites have been mentioned already.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Donough
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Martin Rochford
and all of the above, too.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Peter Knight, Jerry Holland, Eliza Carthy, Michael Gorman, Robin Williamson. Not the best, just my favourites.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by reedy grins
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Oh, and Brendan Bulger, Chris Bains, Gerry O'Connor, Tony Linnane, James Cullinan, Conor Tully, and Benny Thomasson.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Martin Hayes
Eileen Ivers (when she doesnt play weird stuff)
Sean Smyth
Oisin MacDiarmada
Brian Rooney
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Choonz
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Paddy Canny
Liz Carroll
Liz Carroll
Tommy Peoples
Paddy Canny
Is that 5?
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by leoj
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Tommy Peoples
Paddy Glackin
Séan Smyth
Martin Hayes
Pól
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Pól
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Giles Lewin
Sam Proctor
Eddie Strachan
Zina Lee
David Alcock (despite only meeting him briefly)
and I suppose Jerry H has to be included, or he'll NEVER lead a tune on the bloody thing!
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
top of anyones list has to be martin hayes. he plays his music both fast and slow. his technique is unrivalled. flawless music. he can incorporate soft and loud tone in tunes like no one else. does anybody not like him?
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by crazycordie
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Tóla Custy -Co.Clare
Shane McAleer - Co.Tyrone
Liz & Yvonne Kane - Co.Galway
Tommy Peoples - Co.Clare / Donegal
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by eurbanjo
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Tommy People's
Matt Cranitch
Mairead ni Mhaoinigh
Liz Doherty
Paddy Glackin
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Toni Ribas
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Thanks David
I should do well out of this if Zina and Jerry and the others cough up as well(!)
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Andy McGann
Denis Murphy
Michael Coleman
James Cullinan
Brian Rooney
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Irish Trad. Head
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Oh, I'm coughing, all right, Mark. *smirk* But you'll at least get a kiss and a hug for it, you shameless flatterer.
John Gillard, John Carr, John, er David Alcock, Dan Grotewohl, and John Carty.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Lizzy Doe: http://www.myspace.com/lizzydoe
(Sorry Lizzy, I can't resist! Hope Zina won't be jealous of you.)
I have a very rare recording of John Gillard Jr. with his brother and sister on an old Leeds CCE tape.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by slainte
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
David's doing well here!
Though I should point out that I interpreted 'favourite fiddle players' more in the sense of 'favourite to play with', than 'favourite to hear on vinyl' - (Ooops, nearly gave my age age away there!), er, I mean - favourite to download onto my IPod - phew!
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Not that I don't think anyone I mentioned WOULDN'T sound good on my VinylPod.
.... Time to throw away the shovel, I think ....
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Ottery
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Oh yes, I could add Kevin O'Reilly and Jesse Smith. I also admire Jennifer Wrigley's "mischievous" fiddle playing.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by slainte
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
How much do you want for that tape slainte? I promise I'll keep it somewhere safe ... near a magnet
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Just a person
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
wait wait wait, you have a copy of John playing on an old CCE tape? send it to me, slainte-san, send it to me! Plllllleeeeeeeeeaaaase?!? I'll trade you something for it!
Er...should I be jealous of Lizzydoe? And does she know Blayne Chastain from when he was at UoL as well?
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
I don't know if they still have a copy of it, but this is the one: http://www.leedscomhaltas.org.uk/index.php?se=9&pg=36
Kenny sent me an original copy of Harry Bradley's first solo album for nothing some months ago, and I sent him a copy of the tape to him in return. Yeah, he would still keep it if you could destroy mine, John.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by slainte
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
As for the Leeds CCE tape again, it also features young Des and Michael Hurley on fiddle and flute, and very young Michael Tennyson on PA.
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by slainte
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Hey everybody has to start somewhere
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Just a person
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Aw -- Kenny's so lovely with that sort of thing...he's given me a couple of tapes that I haven't been able to listen to yet, as I'd have to unearth a tape-recorder to do it with! Sad of me, isn't it? Now that you've reminded me, perhaps I'll do that this week, if i can find one of them out in the garage...
Anyway, I'll see if I can get a copy of that tape -- if not, I'm going to come a-lookin' for you, slainte-san!
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Zina, I will email them. That's a really lovely recording with seriously good ceili band sets and hard shoe steps, and I've been thinking I could get another copy or two for someone like "ceolachan."
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by slainte
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Kewl. If that's the Jr. ceili band of the time, I especially want it! Let me know if it's available, slainte-san!
# Posted on June 28th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
fiddlers with a pulse:
paddy canny
james kelly
kevin crehan
martin hayes
kathleen collins
fiddlers r.i.p.:
martin rochford
bobby casey
junior crehan
lucy farr
p.j. hayes
# Posted on June 29th 2006 by ceemonster
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Vassar Clements.
Frankie Gavin
Tommy Peoples
Brian Mc Neil
Kevin Burke
And the rest...
# Posted on June 29th 2006 by Ff1d1l
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Oops forgot to say mine are :
PRESENT-Jesse Smith
Frankie Gavin
John Carty
Brian Rooney
Brian Conway
PAST- Michael Coleman
James Morrison
Paddy Killoran
Andy McGann
Lad O'Beirne
# Posted on June 30th 2006 by Fiddle nut
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
honest to god
cheers 'slainte' for the mention, I'm flattered. Zina, no reason to be jealous whatsoever, haha. And yes I know Blaine!!! Lxx
# Posted on July 15th 2006 by Lizzy
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
Liam O Connor
Seán Keane
John Carty
Frankie Gavin
Brian Rooney
past;
Coleman
Killoran
Morrison
lad O Beirne
Bobby Casey
also must mention tommy potts, jesse smyth ,conor mcevoy, and tommy peoples
# Posted on November 21st 2006 by trad!
Re: Favourite 5 Fiddlers
What, no mention of the phenomenally talented Donnell Leahy? He's my all-time favourite, no question, and his band can be credited with (or blamed for ;) ) my decision to pick up the fiddle in the first place. http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1160980671942335614&hl=en-GB
Other favourites - all Canadian -
Natalie MacMaster
Ashley MacIsaac (at his best; he's been known to produce some...questionable material)
Richard Wood
Everyone from Barrage
# Posted on November 21st 2006 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious