For an instrument that's so widely seen in sessions, there are very few recordings of Irish traditional music on the mandolin. In an attempt to remedy this, and inspired by Kevin Krell's superb work in compiling the "Wooden Flute Obsession" series, I'm hoping to devote the best part of this summer to compiling a collection of Irish (and other related) traditional music on the mandolin.
Already I've had a far bit of interest from those "names" in the mandolin field who I've approached direct. Already some half-dozen or so players of note have agreed to take part.
However, I'm really hoping that the CD will present an opportunity for a number of players who haven't yet been recorded to get their playing out in front of an appreciative audience. In the process, the CD will - hopefully - demonstrate how versatile the mandolin is and how players have developed their own styles and adapted it to Irish traditional music.
Any queries, just drop a line or two here and I'll get back to you, or email me offsite if you'd prefer.
Aiden, I don't think think you'd want me on the CD. Not that I'm absolutely dreadful but I know that there's so many better people out there who deserve to be recorded.
Good luck with the project and hope it is a success. If I can come up with any ideas or suggestions, I'll certainly get in touch.
Aidan, have you been in touch with Adam (can't remember his surname but you've probably met him), Dave Eger and Brian Kelly yet? There's also a great player called Laurie who plays around North London. He plays Irish fiddle but I think his speciality is Bluegrass mandolin.
I think it is a fabulous idea. I’ve written the mandolin player in our little ensemble and directed him to this discussion. I absolutely love to play the bodhrán as accompaniment to the mandolin.
I would imagine with some players of the goat skin it could indeed warrant a sad expression.
The structure of your post reminds of that old Cheech and Chong (I think, but my memory shouldn't be relied upon for obvious reasons) routine of; "I've got some p*t, yeah, but I ain't got no papers, boo...."
Great idea. I'll be waiting to buy the CD when it is ready. In the mean time, I'll pass the info on to my mandolin teacher, who would be a great addition to this type of project.
Aiden, I'm sure you will know of Nigel Gatherer from Scotland. He is a great enthusiast of the mandolin and would probably provide you with plenty of info about Scottish players and the like.
Some good Scottish players would be Gary Peterson, Kevin McLeod, Dagger Gordon, Iain MacLeod, Luke Plumb from Tasmania(who's our guest at the moment) but there's many more.
If Luke's staying with you at the moment, would you mind drawing this to his attention. I've contacted everyone on your list bar him and Iain, for whom I can't find email addresses.
Aidan, just curious as to whether your project is going to be limited to just mandolin, or whether you'll include the whole CBOM family of instruments...
Not that I am wanting to record or anything, but I enjoy hearing the "bigger mandolins" too
I'm quite happy to include CBOM instruments, but hoping to major on "the wee yoke"; a CBOM compilation ... hmm ... sounds like I could have a volume 2 brewin'!
Luke can often be found in "Sandy Bells" in Edinburgh - Kevin Macleod will be able to contact him I think.
There has already been 3 sets of CD's recorded by the "Citterns on ICE " project that came from the Cittern list - the ICE part referred to the server the list was originally on.
The 3 double CD sets were all recorded by list members indiviually (and remotely) and varied from excellent to Mmmm.!
It was a collection of CBOM tunes/songs (Citterns Bouzoukis Octave Mandola).
You could post a message on Cittern@yahoogroups.com
Two guys you MUSt have on are Dan Beimborn and Craig Harbauer - tell them that Bev gave you thier names.
How about asking 2 great Scottish mandolin players that I know---Anna Massie (2003 winner of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year award) and another fantastic player, her dad Bobbie Massie...I bet they'd be happy to take part in such a great project. I could pass your email adress on to them if you'd like.
And I'd be interested in buying the CD for sure....as a mandolin player and teacher who is constantly looking for good irish and scottish recordings to play for my students.
Aoife
Yes, look out for Annie Massie. She's a pure genius of a musician for somebody so young---well, she's better than most people of any age, in fact. http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/1202
Her Dad's good too. I've had a tune with him often enough in the past. Very nice and very tolerant people, both of them.
I had the good fortune to stumble across Anna a couple of weeks ago at The Brigg Fiddle Festival. She was doing accompaniment for Bruce Macgregor & Christine Hanson. I was at first disappointed because I was looking forward to hearing Marc Clement ... but wow isn't she good.
I bought her Glad Company CD after the gig and have not stopped playing it since.
I see see is doing The June Jam with Nigel Gatherer for the Glasgow Fiddle Workshop.
Mmmmm I wonder if I can afford to fly up for the weekend......that sounds like a fantastic day!!!
Thanks for the tips, folks ... while I'm reasonably well-acquainted with most Irish mandolin players of note, I'm not quite so in the know as to the Scottish mandolin community (apart from Kevin, Dagger and a few others with whom I've corresponded in the past). I'll certainly be issuing invitations to participate to your recommendations.
Regards and thanks for the help and the kind words.
Mandolin players ... read on
Mandolin players ... read on
For an instrument that's so widely seen in sessions, there are very few recordings of Irish traditional music on the mandolin. In an attempt to remedy this, and inspired by Kevin Krell's superb work in compiling the "Wooden Flute Obsession" series, I'm hoping to devote the best part of this summer to compiling a collection of Irish (and other related) traditional music on the mandolin.
See http://www.paythereckoning.com/mandcomp.html for details.
Already I've had a far bit of interest from those "names" in the mandolin field who I've approached direct. Already some half-dozen or so players of note have agreed to take part.
However, I'm really hoping that the CD will present an opportunity for a number of players who haven't yet been recorded to get their playing out in front of an appreciative audience. In the process, the CD will - hopefully - demonstrate how versatile the mandolin is and how players have developed their own styles and adapted it to Irish traditional music.
Any queries, just drop a line or two here and I'll get back to you, or email me offsite if you'd prefer.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Great idea and as an occasional mandolin player I for one would be interested (listening that is).
Good luck with this
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Donough
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Aiden, I don't think think you'd want me on the CD. Not that I'm absolutely dreadful but I know that there's so many better people out there who deserve to be recorded.
Good luck with the project and hope it is a success. If I can come up with any ideas or suggestions, I'll certainly get in touch.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Good idea and best of luck.
Still miss your quizes
Snorre
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by snorre
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Aidan, have you been in touch with Adam (can't remember his surname but you've probably met him), Dave Eger and Brian Kelly yet? There's also a great player called Laurie who plays around North London. He plays Irish fiddle but I think his speciality is Bluegrass mandolin.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Greetings Aidan,
I think it is a fabulous idea. I’ve written the mandolin player in our little ensemble and directed him to this discussion. I absolutely love to play the bodhrán as accompaniment to the mandolin.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by ejsant
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
So do many others.

Joke
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Greetings John,
I would imagine with some players of the goat skin it could indeed warrant a sad expression.
The structure of your post reminds of that old Cheech and Chong (I think, but my memory shouldn't be relied upon for obvious reasons) routine of; "I've got some p*t, yeah, but I ain't got no papers, boo...."
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by ejsant
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Aidan,
Great idea. I'll be waiting to buy the CD when it is ready. In the mean time, I'll pass the info on to my mandolin teacher, who would be a great addition to this type of project.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Jiml
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Aiden, I'm sure you will know of Nigel Gatherer from Scotland. He is a great enthusiast of the mandolin and would probably provide you with plenty of info about Scottish players and the like.
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/
Some good Scottish players would be Gary Peterson, Kevin McLeod, Dagger Gordon, Iain MacLeod, Luke Plumb from Tasmania(who's our guest at the moment) but there's many more.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Thanks for the kind words, folks!
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
John...
If Luke's staying with you at the moment, would you mind drawing this to his attention. I've contacted everyone on your list bar him and Iain, for whom I can't find email addresses.
Many thanks.
Aidan
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Aiden, I used the term "guest" loosely meaning he was living in Scotland. Can you not contact him through Shooglenifty's site?
I sometimes see Iain as he just lives along the road. I'll mention this, if I see him soon.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
I should add that Luke is very welcome and a great asset to the Edinburgh music scene.
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Aidan, just curious as to whether your project is going to be limited to just mandolin, or whether you'll include the whole CBOM family of instruments...

Not that I am wanting to record or anything, but I enjoy hearing the "bigger mandolins" too
Pete
# Posted on June 3rd 2005 by Reverend
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
What's a CBOM ?
# Posted on June 4th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
At a guess: Cittern, Bouzouki, Octave, Mandola - although in another context you might mean Concertina, Box, and Other Monstrosities.
# Posted on June 4th 2005 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
And so it starts... All the best Aidan,
Kevin Krell
International Traditional Music Society, Inc.
# Posted on June 4th 2005 by kkrell
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
I'm quite happy to include CBOM instruments, but hoping to major on "the wee yoke"; a CBOM compilation ... hmm ... sounds like I could have a volume 2 brewin'!
# Posted on June 4th 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Ooops ... JohnJ ... read a bit more into your post than I ought!
# Posted on June 4th 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Luke can often be found in "Sandy Bells" in Edinburgh - Kevin Macleod will be able to contact him I think.
There has already been 3 sets of CD's recorded by the "Citterns on ICE " project that came from the Cittern list - the ICE part referred to the server the list was originally on.
The 3 double CD sets were all recorded by list members indiviually (and remotely) and varied from excellent to Mmmm.!
It was a collection of CBOM tunes/songs (Citterns Bouzoukis Octave Mandola).
You could post a message on Cittern@yahoogroups.com
Two guys you MUSt have on are Dan Beimborn and Craig Harbauer - tell them that Bev gave you thier names.
Dan@Celticmusic.com
craigtoo@mac.com
# Posted on June 5th 2005 by UKCITTERN
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
How about asking 2 great Scottish mandolin players that I know---Anna Massie (2003 winner of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year award) and another fantastic player, her dad Bobbie Massie...I bet they'd be happy to take part in such a great project. I could pass your email adress on to them if you'd like.
And I'd be interested in buying the CD for sure....as a mandolin player and teacher who is constantly looking for good irish and scottish recordings to play for my students.
Aoife
# Posted on June 5th 2005 by aoife
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Sounds like fun.
# Posted on June 6th 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Yes, look out for Annie Massie. She's a pure genius of a musician for somebody so young---well, she's better than most people of any age, in fact.
people, both of them.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/1202
Her Dad's good too. I've had a tune with him often enough in the past. Very nice and very tolerant
# Posted on June 6th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
I had the good fortune to stumble across Anna a couple of weeks ago at The Brigg Fiddle Festival. She was doing accompaniment for Bruce Macgregor & Christine Hanson. I was at first disappointed because I was looking forward to hearing Marc Clement ... but wow isn't she good.
I bought her Glad Company CD after the gig and have not stopped playing it since.
I see see is doing The June Jam with Nigel Gatherer for the Glasgow Fiddle Workshop.
Mmmmm I wonder if I can afford to fly up for the weekend......that sounds like a fantastic day!!!
http://www.glasgowfiddle.f9.co.uk/main.html
Mikk
# Posted on June 6th 2005 by mikk
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
Thanks for the tips, folks ... while I'm reasonably well-acquainted with most Irish mandolin players of note, I'm not quite so in the know as to the Scottish mandolin community (apart from Kevin, Dagger and a few others with whom I've corresponded in the past). I'll certainly be issuing invitations to participate to your recommendations.
Regards and thanks for the help and the kind words.
Aidan
# Posted on June 6th 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Mandolin players ... read on
A friend played me a recording of Luke Plumb's playing recently - absolutely exquisite! love to hear more when he's back here in Oz
# Posted on June 7th 2005 by geoffmc