I'm curious as to who your biggest influences [commercial that is] and why. I'm sure the majority have very deep personal influences on your music too [e.g. close friends, teachers etc] but lets keep with the commercially recorded ones for the sake of this thread.
I'll begin with mine.
I have to mention Finbarr Dwyer. I first heard of him through his tunes and found a CD of his in the public library here in Dublin which I decided to take out on loan. While Tony Mac Mahon was my favorite accordion player at the time, it wasn't long before [through a lot of listening to Finbarr's CD] that Dwyer claimed that spot. It was a gradual thing. I knew his playing was an 'old' kind of style. It had this monstrous sound [mind you, his accordion was a beast too] and the tunes he played were very desirable, including the ones he wrote. There were things he could do to a tune that just stuck out and made me smile, gave me shivers up my spine and the whole works. After many weeks of this, I was glued into his playing, listening out for those 'on the spot' variations. I knew this stuff couldn't have been rehearsed. Someone was speaking about 'nyah' in another thread and this is a great example of it in my opinion. His effect, through the music, just brought this air about the place. It was effortless, yet genius and subtle. I began to dislike 'pre-empted variations' and thought it almost a counter production to the idea behind the music. What a legend!
Next I'll mention Mick O'Connor, the banjo player from London. I first came across him, properly, through those Youtube videos which had been posted a while back. His 'steady as a rock' rhythm was instantly noticeable and I was never a fan of flashy banjo playing. He is a clever musician with lovely little twists and turns in the tune, yet never straying from the melody line. He can do anything but doesn't. This gave me a new mindset towards the music and develop, in a sense, a minimalistic style. Ornamentation is there to decorate the tune, and putting it everywhere is like lashing on make-up to an already, beautiful looking girl (if you understand the comparison.)
Padraig Mac Donnchadha, Brian Fitzgerald and Kitty Hayes also fall into this category but, to avoid long-windedness, I'll stop there.
Being a banjo and guitar player I could'nt agree more with you about Mick O'Connor.He is a most inventive player and on my occasinal visits to Ireland for Fleadh Cheoil I always take back enough field recordings of his playing to study for a year or two.He would be one of my all time favorites.Also Mick Moloney,Tom Cussen and Shaskeen. I was lucky enough to accompany John Carty and Brendan Mulkere on their visit to Australia in 1983, and that left a huge impression on me.Nuala Hehir and Jody Moran is about as good as it gets also.
It took me a long time to work out where mine came from - I was talking to a beginners' session about some sheet music, and said "that's clearly wrong". There were several bemused looks and "why?"s, to which I could only answer "can't you HEAR that it's wrong?". They couldn't.
It took a couple of days musing on why what was written seemed obviously wrong to me, but not to the beginners. I finally worked out that I'd been listening to ITM much longer than I thought since I first started hearing Steeleye Span when I was about twelve. I'd always thought of them as an English group, but realised that their fiddler was clearly an accomplished and experienced ITM session musician and that almost all the tunes on their albums were Irish - Dowd's Favourite, The Hag With The Money, Mooncoin Jig, Sligo Maid, Bride's Favourite, Tansey's Fancy...all Irish tunes I'd grown up listening to without realising it. And the guy certainly has 'nyah'!
I recently started a couple of sets of reels for a session and was later complemented by one the patriarchs of the local music scene, who came over to tell me how much he'd enjoyed my box playing. I was pretty chuffed - he was probably the biggest 'name' there - but part of me realised he was really complimenting the settings I'd played, which were exactly as Peter Knight played them on those recordings over thirty years before....
Eno
Speaking as a keyboard player, I would say the first person to influence me would be Triona ni Dhomhnaill's playing with the Bothy Band. I have since listened to some other keyboard players but the only one whose name I can remember right now would be Donna Long who used to perform with Cherish The Ladies.
Liz Carroll & Sharon Shannon in the early '90s were the first Irish musicians to catch my attention and get me interested. Martin Hayes' first CD made me decide to go to Ireland for the first time in '96, where I got to hear P.Joe and Francie Donnellan. Josephine Marsh was the reason I chose to play accordion. Mary MacNamara was the reason I chose to play concertina and a great source of tunes. Jackie Daly, Edel Fox, and Kitty Hayes are huge recent influences. To a somewhat lesser extent, Paddy Canny, Junior Crehan, Mike Rafferty, Liz & Yvonne Kane.
Joe Derrane and John Kimmel stand at the top for me, and also Philippe Bruneau, the French Canadian box player, and Nathan Abshire who inspired me greatly whenI was (and still am) playing Cajun music.
Mary Mac Namara, Noel Hill and Micheal O'Raghallaigh are part of my concertina pantheon. (And Edel Fox now).Frankie Gavin, Kevin Burke & Daly,also Lucy Farr and the folks from Paddy In The Smoke in general, I'm forgetting too many people, it's almost impossible to list them all...
In the non-ITM world, Roberto Di Phillippo, the bandoneon player stands in a class of his own. Huge influence. I have a feeling this thread is soon going to turn into a thick phone book....
Beatles. No kidding. Before them, no music for me at all. The following day after their first TV appearance, Dad brought home a guitar and I never looked back. I was just shy of my 13th birthday.
Seamus Tansey, Matt Molloy and Frankie Kennedy, Paul Gallagher. Bobby Gardiner, Tony McMahon Paddy Hayes and Joe Burke. Many others of course. Wish I could play a few notes like any of them!
Going way back - Christy Moore
Now - Johnny McDonagh, Tommy Hayes, and to a lesser extent, John Joe Kelly
Honourable mentions to Mel Mercier, Sean O Riada's playing at The Olympia concert, and my original teacher Brendan Harding and the CCE players at the Seven Oaks in Carlow in the late 70s.
Finally to Robbie Walsh, whose lessons at Craiceann 02 have stuck!
Planxty, Dolores Keane & John Faulkner, Stockton's Wing, De Dannan, Seamus Tansey, Lunasa, Paddy Keenan, Tommy Peoples, and only recently discovered for me, Finbar D, who has a magical way of playing indeed.
I know the question asks for the biggest commercial influences and not for personal influences e.g. close friends, but I'd just like to say that though I have been influenced by recording artists I don't personally know, these influences pail into insignificance compared to the influences from those I have played with for years.
Fiddlers: Martin and Brendan Mulvihill, John Doherty (still listening to him for inspiration!), Paddy Glackin, Kevin Burke, Sean Keane, Frankie Gavin Eugene O'Donnell
You tell us that you want our biggest influences, but then tell us to limit ourselves to recorded artists. In this music especially , shouldn't our biggest influences be the people we interact with as human beings? Not those we heard on the radio or on an mp3.
Really, KML? Fantastic. I went to school with the cousin of Liquorice, of the Incredible String Band. The lead singer of my first band was Green of Scritti Politti.
... oh, and I once stood in the next cubicle to Tony Benn in a public urinal.
Seriously, though, Danny, I'd really be interested in that. Gong were a truly great band, exerting an influence way beyond their rather limited direct audience.
btw, Al, that's why my 'influences' are all *not* ITM. My biggest ITM influences are all real people, ie people I know or have known.
Brian Conway, Rose Flanagan, Linda Hickman, Felix Dolan, Tom Dunne, Don Meade, John Dillon, Ray Murphy, Colleen Settle, Julee Glaub, Pat Casey, Margie Mulvihill, the list seems endless and I'm sure I've forgotten some. These are just some of the great players that so generously welcomed me into the music six short years ago.
As far as non-recorded folks, as far as I know anyway, the two most influential to me were the young lad that first inspired me with his obvious passion at the Fleadh Cheol in Athea, County Limerick and Pete the busker in Adare.
Got me hooked on the flute: Matt Molloy on youtube playing the Bucks of Oranmore
Without those I wouldn't play the same instrument or kind of music now, and as for other influences, I always surround me with Cherish the Ladies, John & James Kelly, Seamus Tansey and Finbarr Dwyer from that Outlet 10 cd-box, the Bothy Band, Planxty and Matt Molloy. Among those, I really can't tell what I'm copying and what not, I think I draw as much as possible from any of them
I listen to tons of folk music so when deciding my "biggest influences," I'm choosing artists or bands I have listened to the most frequently and attentively, either in person or on recordings. The question I ask then are which CDs do I play over and over again and learn lots of tunes from or, if it's someone I actually play tunes with at sessions, is it someone whose playing I watch intently hoping some of their amazing technique and musicality comes to me via osmosis.
It comes out to be an incredibly random and diverse range of styles.
Some of the people I'm listing (very few) are indeed friends and a few have been teachers, but as they have recorded, I'm including them in the list.
For uilleann pipes: David Power, Jerry O'Sullivan, Seamus Ennis, Ronan Browne, Dicky Deegan, Cillian Vallely, Mick O'Brian, Eamon Dillon, Paddy Maloney, Padraic Mac Mathuna, Eliot Grasso
For everything else: Natalie McMaster, Michael Coleman, Joe Burke, Andy McGann, Finlay MacDonald, Marc Duff, Paddy Killoran, Daimh, Matt Molloy, John Carty, Gordon Duncan, Tommy Peoples, Stockton's Wing, Dave Adam, Brian Kelly, Sean Keane, The Live at Mona's CD, Harry Bradley, Sharon Shannon
I have to agree with Al and llig, the biggest influences on me in The Music have been the local friends I play with, most are older folks with vast sums of knowledge, wisdom, and have played for years. There are many wonderful tunes I've learned by ear from them, in addition to dancing, traditions, and so on.
There's not a single commercial artist that has been a bigger influence to me than these folks. Sorry I couldn't help you out.
SWFL Fiddler, I have had many similar experiences over the years playing with older musicians at various jam sessions in my alter ego as a bass player but I wasn't going to mention them because PaddyCmusic asked for commercial influences only.
I can understand very well what you are talking about when you mention learning a lot from working with older and more experienced musicians.
Let me explain why I only wanted commercial influences named. If this thread was intended for general influences, lots of replies would be similar to
"...oh, that old box player that thought me tunes 20 years ago in my great grandfathers house...etc etc"
It really means nothing to me to know that if I can't associate with the person who you're telling me of. At least with commercially recorded artists, we all know who each other are talking about and can discuss about them.
Yes, my first banjo teacher was a great influence, so was a session leader in the Culthurlann. These helped me and encouraged me greatly, far more than what any music files could do. But do you really care?
Yes, yes I do care, I'd like to hear a lot more stories about him or her. I think that's great. It's vastly more important to have someone near you, hopefully someone you can make friends with, and interact with often, than just listening to recordings.
I'd much rather hear about how personal interaction with someone knowledgable and local you respect has helped you. To me, IMHO, that's a lot more important than listening to big commercial recordings.
Yes, I do care for one, but it is interesting to hear what kind of people, you can't discuss their skills of course, but it doesn't seem as if the well known ones would be discussed here either.
AND that should read "i don't know the person but it is interesting..."
My biggest influence would be a local box-player, probably the most consistent sessioneer here which led me to stick to his tunes while learning repertoire.
I hold my hand up and admit to being wrong in my taught so! Anyway, lets not fall out over it.
If you are interested, it was Frank Perry, a banjo teacher who ran his own Comhaltas branch in Monkstown who gave me the initial "push-start." He complimented me endlessly and encouraged me to go to sessions and, ultimately, enter the fleadh. After my very first competition [I didn't get placed], he said; "That's a disgrace, you should have won." While I was not and am not a competitive person, it still meant a lot to me at the time. When you're that young it does I suppose.
"I'm curious as to who your biggest influences [commercial that is] are and why"
I'm curious as to what you mean by 'commercial', Paddy. Do you mean musicians that you've hear on recordings and in 'performance' as opposed to those you've played with or been taught by? Or do you mean those who are well known? Either way, I don't see that there is such a clearly defined line in traditional music - there is every chance that you will, at some point, encounter your favourite recording artist in a session and share a tune with them.
I too would cite Mick O'Connor as a major influence. but I would not class himas a 'commercial' influence - I was a regular at his sessions for some years and some of his style inevitably seeped in to my playing (not that I haven't also tried consciously to emulate his style). For the same reason, I would cite fiddler Sean Casey (regrettably, I never heard him in his banjo playing days - and came to traditional music a year to late to meet his father). But I would say that I have been equally influenced by dozens of others, most of whose names would mean nothing to most people. By playing with other musicians, you inevitably take on board some of their musical aesthetic and incorporate it into your own playing - even with musicians whose playing I don't particularly like, I sometimes recognise elements of their style in my own playing.
Now-a-days I can't listen to Kevin Griffin's Across the Pond CD without hearing something new each time that inspires me
But the biggest influence was clearly my grandparents who planted the seeds for this passion long ago and without me really knowing it. I hope this will inspire all you parents and grandparents out there - keep playing this music for your children - it seeps in even while they are scorning it for pop music.
Yeah, recorded artists was what I originally intended for the thread though some people will see many 'big names' as 'close friends.' Come on, I did my best
Well, it was back in the early to mid 70’s that I realized I *had* to start playing this music, so I suppose my biggest influences were the folks I was listening to at that seminal time – Peter Knight (Steeleye), Boys of the Lough, the Chieftains, De Danann, some unknown musicians on tapes from Radio Free Georgia. Later on, everybody else. I also learned a good bit from friends, especially Moira Nelligan.
The majority of my influences are local players, or friends that I've met through this site, many of whom could be "commercial" players if they chose that path in life.
But if I had to list my single biggest "commercial" influence, it would definitely be John Carty, through years of listening and personal interaction.
Above and beyond that, there have been some very distinct influences from Roger Landes, Padraig Mac Donnchadha, Kevin Crawford, Luke Plumb, Matt Heaton, and Dave Cory - a few of whom I consider personal friends as well.
Great names. But Darby O'Gill, Lucky Charms commercials, the Irish Spring soap jingle, the Molokai leprechaun colony, green alligators and long necked geese also deserve mention.
These days, increasingly the people I play along with - and getting the hang of their tunes and ways (the Elm Tree Monday style, the Elm Tree Tuesday style, and the various Dun Cow traditions...).
Seminal influences weren't ITM but were in one way or another oddly connected: Gilbert and Sullivan, Incredible String Band, Geordie songs (I'm not one, but grew up nearby), and the inimitable Northumbrian piping of Billy Pigg.
When I graduated from whistle to D/G melodeon, I wrapped myself round Norfolk player Tony Hall's record "Fieldvole Music" and learnt what I could from that. He played the run-of-the-mill Hohner Pokerwork melodeon with a lyricism it seemed no other English box player was even trying to achieve at that time. Definitely my no.1 box influence.
I would like to thank Planxty, Stockton's Wing, the Bothy Band, Andy Irvine & Paul Brady, Jimmy Crowley & Stoker's Lodge, Dolores Keane & John Faulkner, Matt Molloy, and all the others who used to do the folk festivals back in the 70's.
And more recently, Danu, Dervish, Lunasa, Angelina Carberry, Kevin Griffin, Na Connerys, the folks on the Cobblestones and the Live at Matt Molloy's CDs.
And Supply, Demand, and Curve ... anyone remember them?
For me no influence, whether for the music, repetoire, or my instrument, is greater than SF Bay Area mandolin player Marla Fibish. Second would be the other great musicians who host sessions at the Plough & Stars in SF. I really can't say that any recording artists I listen too have been nearly so important for me, although the box player I play tunes with has introduced me to a lot of box recordings, and Josephine Marsh and Johnny B. Connolly are current strong influences for me.
I am seriously resistant to influence by big stars. Not out of jealousy or anything like that, but because I know they're doing it for a living and I'm not, and I would make myself very unhappy indeed were I to try to emulate any of 'em. 99.5% of the influences I've had come from the hairy-arses in Bude and environs with whom I play the chunes. But if you're asking who got me going in this sublime pastime of ours, I wouldn't be here today had I not bought a super-cheap compilation double LP about 25 years ago that had, among other things, several tracks by Planxty, De Dannan, the Bothies and a few others. It was the best £4.99 I ever spent, even if I did have to put up with a Billy Connolly track or two (funny bastard though, innee!) In later years I loved Ron Kavana in all his manifestations, though in the last few years he seems to have gone really funny...I wish the bugger would just stick to playing chunes!
Sandy Denny turns up in at least one list above. I missed hearing her in her time, but tracks I've heard recently assure me her singing was every bit as good as it's been cracked up to be - it's clear, soft, unpretentious, and right on the rhythm or note.
Paddy - the only people you can really get infulenced from are the people you play with every day......you cant just listen to albums and expect to get great - youve got to go to sessions and listen, listen, listen. You can listen to albums as a tool - but the fact is, unless you get to see what people are doing as well as hear it you'll get nowhere.
If you want commercial though - Kevin Glackin as well - but only cause I took lessons from him for about a year.....
bb, while I agree with what you're saying to some extent, I believe that commercial recordings can provoke an influence. For beginners it may spark an initial interest and for advanced (using the term loosely) players they may develop a new style or mindset from some genius musician.
I know had I never heard Mick O'Connor or Padraig Mac Dhonncha, my style would be different that it currently is.
I'm a "less-is-more" kind of backer, what can I say?
Also the Pogues (who taught me that this music can have humor and a bit of a snotty-nosed, pished-off attitude, which suits me perfectly right now). And the Clancy Brothers. Plus dozens more.
Very recently, I've discovered Geraldine Cotter; I love her playing, and especially her style, which is interesting without being too busy. IMHO. I can't wait to get her newer piano/whistle tutorial CD/book.
And the truly wonderful people at my local sessions, who continue to twist my arm to keep showing up, even when I feel like I'm WAY out of my league.
I have to disagree a bit with ye bb there. While i do think going to sessions and listening is one of the major influences on almost everybody there are countless musicians that have been influenced by recordings without having seen what someone is doing. You wont pick up little ornamentations by going to sessions where people will really be keeping it simple so as not to unbalance it. And if someone is doing little things and fancy runs chances are you won't be able to pick it up in a group situation like that when everybody is playing, you know.
take the old 1920s recordings of morrison, coleman, killoran etc. There are hundreds of fiddle players influenced by them, but none of them have seen what they did, they only have recordings to go by. Good musicians are able to pick up things without having to actually see it in action, like you can tell up bows from down bows, little intinations and other things just by listening. Take john carty and frankie gavin for example, you can totally hear the influence that these recordings have had. And another good example is patsy tuohey, brilliant 1800s piper, and you can hear his influence in all the great pipers from liam o'flynn to sean mckeon. So i don't think that you'll get 'nowhere' from just listening to recordings, of course seeing what is being done is a great help but without it its not like you are going to get nowhere. I know that listening to recordings have had a greater influence on me than actually going to fiddle classes.
I think you can learn a heck of a lot from good records, I think I did. And I'm not so sure that you have to see people play, if anything, it could be a distraction. For example, I learned to play that back beat thing in reels with an up bow, so I learned the bowing back to front. Sounds the same though.
(I don't do that accenting the back beat anymore, I freed myself from that constriction).
But I'll always remember saying to myself, while listening to "If The Cap Fits" for the zillionth time, that when I can play toss the feathers like kevin burke, I'll be able to play the fiddle. But when I eventually could, I was able also to realise, that that was no measure of really being able to play the fiddle at all. All I was able to do was to play the fiddle like Kevin Burke.
I'm not dissing Burke's playing or bigging up my own. Quite the reverse. He's a terrific player with a fantastic style all of his own. It's just that to slavishly ape it, while being an important learning progression, is ultimately a creative dead end.
I just read that post and it sounds more than a tad arrogant. Sorry, It's not the meaning or tone I intended. When I said, "All I was able to do was to play the fiddle like Kevin Burke" what I meant was that all I'd done was slavishly copy one rendition of one tune.
So llig, do you think that your slavishly copying Burke on one tune was helpful to you in the long run? I mean, did you learn anything specific that you use to this day?
I have often thought about trying to completely dissect some of my favorite tracks to learn some tricks. (Like John Carty's bass double stops on banjo thrown in the melody of Steampacket, for instance).
Gerry O'Connor (the 'Journeyman' album) - my main inspiration
and Matt Cranitch, Adrian Barker, Paddy Glackin, Paddy Keenan,
Frankie Gavin (the 1st album), Andy McGann, the Kane Sisters, Martin Hayes, Mary McNamara
-- I wish I could hear more of Mark Donnellan, the king of swing
My own style could be described as ...
"well he's better than he was last year"
fiddlerurai - on what planet is it a good thing to have hundreds of people sounding like one famous musician? That is exactly the reason I think its bad just to try and pick up things from recordings........to avoid the clones...
Oh yes, copying note for note, nuance for nuance is very important. It's all about learning by ear, prooving to yourself that you are hearing everthing. We often talk about the importance of putting your own stamp on it, but your stamp must be well informed otherwise it's not the music anymore, it's just some free form stuff you made up. Nothing wrong with that, of course, if that's your bag, but but I think the music matters.
As someone said on a previous thread, "If you don't wish to conform to a preconceived concept of what Irish music sounds like, then you can play tunes as you choose. It may not sound like Irish Music, but so what?"
whoa, calm down! i never said that it was good to have hundreds of fiddle players sounding the same.
i said that there are hundreds of fiddle players that are 'influenced' by them. being influenced by a recording is totally different to copying something. if someone learns a little run or ornamentation or something like a chord than the prerogative should be to use it in other tunes.
Of course i realise that there is a whole combination of experiences that contribute to someones development but i dont think that you'll get nowhere by just listening to recordings.
if you're talking about starting from scratch however then definately yes, but i think the thread is just about recordings that you have heard that have helped mould you're playing apart from going to sessions and classes, whether its a tune you play, the way you play a roll, your bowing, not necessarily playing exactly like someone. i think everyone here has been to a session or classes, so i dont think we're relying just on recordings here.
hmm, interesting point about "i don't think that you'll get nowhere by just listening to recordings."
I understand what you are talking about and I do appreciate the value of recordings (provided they are the best of course), especially in the early stages. However, It is a kind of artistic and cultural cul-de-sac, so are you effectively getting nowhere or not?
lol, yea i suppose its a matter of what you term as nowhere! i suppose in my own view, if you just listen to cds and you learn a couple of tunes and some ornamentations etc., i wouldn't say that it is nowhere. I know that there is only so much you can gain from cds and that the possibilities with sessions and basic interaction with other musicians and their playing is endless. But then again on the other hand everybody is different so i suppose its what use you make of the recordings you have, because listening to something like coleman doesn't guarantee anything. Its really subjective.
So now that i think about it, theres really now way to answer your question! lol.
oh and just to add quickly to that, i know that with me everytime i listen to a (good) cd, it doesn't matter how many times i listen i always find something new, whether its a tune i noticed before or not or something small, i always get that from good recordings. so again really subjective.
As fiddleruairi put it, many fiddler have been influenced from the 78rpm discs of the 1920s. I think we can all agree that an obvious influence comes from recordings, even todays ones, not just the oldies. Of course, listening to recordings alone is not healthy. You can technically learn a lot. Your ear becomes trained, you pick up nuances from the player but interaction is a part of the passing on of the tradition too.
As for 'clones', I believe people should listen to who they like. Various combinations of players you listen to will have a different output on how your own style develops (or continues to develop.)
For example, I picked up a lot from Kieran Hanrahan when I went to a handful of classes. I ended up using the guitar flicking a lot in my playing and putting more emphasis by hitting base strings. But I preffered to play triplets like Brian Fitzgerald (on recordings) does them (sparingly and very crisp.) Influences with variations and approaches to tunes were picked up from recordings of Mick O'Connor and Finbarr Dwyer (amongst others) whom I already mentioned.
All of these influences come together and contribute to my own style, which I haven't heard anyone copy or anyone say that I was copying another musician. However, I've still a long journey ahead of me.
Charlie Piggott, Andrew MacNamara, Josephine Marsh, Verena Commins, Pat O'Connor, Paddy Canny, Mary MacNamara, Claire Keville. I play the box, and all these people ahd a big influence on me, about style, tunes, rhythm,...
Your biggest influence
Your biggest influence
I'm curious as to who your biggest influences [commercial that is] and why. I'm sure the majority have very deep personal influences on your music too [e.g. close friends, teachers etc] but lets keep with the commercially recorded ones for the sake of this thread.
I'll begin with mine.
I have to mention Finbarr Dwyer. I first heard of him through his tunes and found a CD of his in the public library here in Dublin which I decided to take out on loan. While Tony Mac Mahon was my favorite accordion player at the time, it wasn't long before [through a lot of listening to Finbarr's CD] that Dwyer claimed that spot. It was a gradual thing. I knew his playing was an 'old' kind of style. It had this monstrous sound [mind you, his accordion was a beast too] and the tunes he played were very desirable, including the ones he wrote. There were things he could do to a tune that just stuck out and made me smile, gave me shivers up my spine and the whole works. After many weeks of this, I was glued into his playing, listening out for those 'on the spot' variations. I knew this stuff couldn't have been rehearsed. Someone was speaking about 'nyah' in another thread and this is a great example of it in my opinion. His effect, through the music, just brought this air about the place. It was effortless, yet genius and subtle. I began to dislike 'pre-empted variations' and thought it almost a counter production to the idea behind the music. What a legend!
Next I'll mention Mick O'Connor, the banjo player from London. I first came across him, properly, through those Youtube videos which had been posted a while back. His 'steady as a rock' rhythm was instantly noticeable and I was never a fan of flashy banjo playing. He is a clever musician with lovely little twists and turns in the tune, yet never straying from the melody line. He can do anything but doesn't. This gave me a new mindset towards the music and develop, in a sense, a minimalistic style. Ornamentation is there to decorate the tune, and putting it everywhere is like lashing on make-up to an already, beautiful looking girl (if you understand the comparison.)
Padraig Mac Donnchadha, Brian Fitzgerald and Kitty Hayes also fall into this category but, to avoid long-windedness, I'll stop there.
Over to you...
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Your biggest influence
Being a banjo and guitar player I could'nt agree more with you about Mick O'Connor.He is a most inventive player and on my occasinal visits to Ireland for Fleadh Cheoil I always take back enough field recordings of his playing to study for a year or two.He would be one of my all time favorites.Also Mick Moloney,Tom Cussen and Shaskeen. I was lucky enough to accompany John Carty and Brendan Mulkere on their visit to Australia in 1983, and that left a huge impression on me.Nuala Hehir and Jody Moran is about as good as it gets also.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Your biggest influence
Hey tony, I heard a rumour from a little birdy that jody moran is moving to australia next year....woooohooo
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by bb
Re: Your biggest influence
It took me a long time to work out where mine came from - I was talking to a beginners' session about some sheet music, and said "that's clearly wrong". There were several bemused looks and "why?"s, to which I could only answer "can't you HEAR that it's wrong?". They couldn't.
It took a couple of days musing on why what was written seemed obviously wrong to me, but not to the beginners. I finally worked out that I'd been listening to ITM much longer than I thought since I first started hearing Steeleye Span when I was about twelve. I'd always thought of them as an English group, but realised that their fiddler was clearly an accomplished and experienced ITM session musician and that almost all the tunes on their albums were Irish - Dowd's Favourite, The Hag With The Money, Mooncoin Jig, Sligo Maid, Bride's Favourite, Tansey's Fancy...all Irish tunes I'd grown up listening to without realising it. And the guy certainly has 'nyah'!
I recently started a couple of sets of reels for a session and was later complemented by one the patriarchs of the local music scene, who came over to tell me how much he'd enjoyed my box playing. I was pretty chuffed - he was probably the biggest 'name' there - but part of me realised he was really complimenting the settings I'd played, which were exactly as Peter Knight played them on those recordings over thirty years before....
Eno
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by bc_box_player
Re: Your biggest influence
Speaking as a keyboard player, I would say the first person to influence me would be Triona ni Dhomhnaill's playing with the Bothy Band. I have since listened to some other keyboard players but the only one whose name I can remember right now would be Donna Long who used to perform with Cherish The Ladies.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Your biggest influence
The Funk Brothers
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Bodhi
Re: Your biggest influence
Frankie Bones
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Marklar
Re: Your biggest influence
No question, Frank Zappa.
A distant second (with apologies): "The Incredible String Band."
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Eliot
Re: Your biggest influence
Liz Carroll & Sharon Shannon in the early '90s were the first Irish musicians to catch my attention and get me interested. Martin Hayes' first CD made me decide to go to Ireland for the first time in '96, where I got to hear P.Joe and Francie Donnellan. Josephine Marsh was the reason I chose to play accordion. Mary MacNamara was the reason I chose to play concertina and a great source of tunes. Jackie Daly, Edel Fox, and Kitty Hayes are huge recent influences. To a somewhat lesser extent, Paddy Canny, Junior Crehan, Mike Rafferty, Liz & Yvonne Kane.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: Your biggest influence(s)
Christy Moore and Shane MacGowan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iUEwB4ME3I
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by gw
Re: Your biggest influence
Ado Barker, Ger Clancy, Siobhan Peoples, Benno Stephenson, Dow, lots of others that I've played with over the years.....and listened to hours on end
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by bb
Re: Your biggest influence
Joe Derrane and John Kimmel stand at the top for me, and also Philippe Bruneau, the French Canadian box player, and Nathan Abshire who inspired me greatly whenI was (and still am) playing Cajun music.
Mary Mac Namara, Noel Hill and Micheal O'Raghallaigh are part of my concertina pantheon. (And Edel Fox now).Frankie Gavin, Kevin Burke & Daly,also Lucy Farr and the folks from Paddy In The Smoke in general, I'm forgetting too many people, it's almost impossible to list them all...
In the non-ITM world, Roberto Di Phillippo, the bandoneon player stands in a class of his own. Huge influence. I have a feeling this thread is soon going to turn into a thick phone book....
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by pennhorse
Re: Your biggest influence
Beatles. No kidding. Before them, no music for me at all. The following day after their first TV appearance, Dad brought home a guitar and I never looked back. I was just shy of my 13th birthday.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Your biggest influence
Liz Carroll, Siobhan Peoples, Alasdaire White and Liz Doherty are the main reason I chose to play the Fiddle.
But my biggest influence are the people i get to play tunes with every week.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by davydd
Re: Your biggest influence
Yup. As far as fiddle goes, first Robin Williamson, then Peter Knight.
Now, Michael Gorman, the Kellys, Gibbie Hutchison and Kathleen Smyth.
But it will take some genius to displace Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by reedy grins
Re: Your biggest influence
Seamus Tansey, Matt Molloy and Frankie Kennedy, Paul Gallagher. Bobby Gardiner, Tony McMahon Paddy Hayes and Joe Burke. Many others of course. Wish I could play a few notes like any of them!
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Your biggest influence
Kevin Burke, Tommy Peoples, Paddy Keenan, Liz Carroll, Gerry 'fiddle' O'Connor.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Your biggest influence
I often find myself under the influence when playing this music, though I'm careful to walk home and return for the car in the morning....
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Your biggest influence
Going way back - Christy Moore
Now - Johnny McDonagh, Tommy Hayes, and to a lesser extent, John Joe Kelly
Honourable mentions to Mel Mercier, Sean O Riada's playing at The Olympia concert, and my original teacher Brendan Harding and the CCE players at the Seven Oaks in Carlow in the late 70s.
Finally to Robbie Walsh, whose lessons at Craiceann 02 have stuck!
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by RockyRoader
Re: Your biggest influence
Alec Finn.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Your biggest influence
Captain Beefheart. The Pink Fairies. Gong.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Your biggest influence
Forgot - Cathal McConnell, Seamus Ennis, Jackie Daly and Seamus Egan.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Your biggest influence
Ben - my daughter's friend's dad was Gong's manager.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Your biggest influence
Planxty, Dolores Keane & John Faulkner, Stockton's Wing, De Dannan, Seamus Tansey, Lunasa, Paddy Keenan, Tommy Peoples, and only recently discovered for me, Finbar D, who has a magical way of playing indeed.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Ottery
Re: Your biggest influence
I know the question asks for the biggest commercial influences and not for personal influences e.g. close friends, but I'd just like to say that though I have been influenced by recording artists I don't personally know, these influences pail into insignificance compared to the influences from those I have played with for years.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Your biggest influence
Barney McKenna, Kieran Hanrahan, Eamonn Coyne, Cathal Hayden,Angelina Carberry and ,of course , John Carty !
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by banjoian
Re: Your biggest influence
Kenny G, Lad O'Burn, Finbarr O'Pleurisy, Cathal Gayden, Big Ball McKenzie, the Blistering barnicles cheili band, Colm Gannon.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Your biggest influence
the bothy band, christy moore, the pogues, paddy glackin
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by bodatcha
Re: Your biggest influence
Bands: Chieftains, De Dannan, Planxty doing instrumentals, Silly Wizard, Stockton's Wing
Fiddlers: Martin and Brendan Mulvihill, John Doherty (still listening to him for inspiration!), Paddy Glackin, Kevin Burke, Sean Keane, Frankie Gavin Eugene O'Donnell
Pipers: Paddy Moloney, Finbar Furey, Paddy Keenan
In General: Matt Molloy, Mick Moloney
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Rook
Re: Your biggest influence
You tell us that you want our biggest influences, but then tell us to limit ourselves to recorded artists. In this music especially , shouldn't our biggest influences be the people we interact with as human beings? Not those we heard on the radio or on an mp3.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Your biggest influence
Really, KML? Fantastic. I went to school with the cousin of Liquorice, of the Incredible String Band. The lead singer of my first band was Green of Scritti Politti.
... oh, and I once stood in the next cubicle to Tony Benn in a public urinal.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Your biggest influence
Seriously, though, Danny, I'd really be interested in that. Gong were a truly great band, exerting an influence way beyond their rather limited direct audience.
btw, Al, that's why my 'influences' are all *not* ITM. My biggest ITM influences are all real people, ie people I know or have known.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Your biggest influence
Brian Conway, Rose Flanagan, Linda Hickman, Felix Dolan, Tom Dunne, Don Meade, John Dillon, Ray Murphy, Colleen Settle, Julee Glaub, Pat Casey, Margie Mulvihill, the list seems endless and I'm sure I've forgotten some. These are just some of the great players that so generously welcomed me into the music six short years ago.
As far as non-recorded folks, as far as I know anyway, the two most influential to me were the young lad that first inspired me with his obvious passion at the Fleadh Cheol in Athea, County Limerick and Pete the busker in Adare.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by ejsant
Re: Your biggest influence
Michael McGoldrick
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by S.Doherty
Re: Your biggest influence
For fiddle: Frankie, john carty, coleman, morrison, martin byrnes, james kelly and lots of others.
and bouzouki: alec finn, andy irvine.
and generally: planxty, de danann, bothy band, matt molloy, seamus tansey, tommy reck, finbar dwyer, tony mac, noel hill, mary mac, patsy tuohey.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: Your biggest influence
Drew me into irish music: The Dubliners
Got me hooked on the flute: Matt Molloy on youtube playing the Bucks of Oranmore
Without those I wouldn't play the same instrument or kind of music now, and as for other influences, I always surround me with Cherish the Ladies, John & James Kelly, Seamus Tansey and Finbarr Dwyer from that Outlet 10 cd-box, the Bothy Band, Planxty and Matt Molloy. Among those, I really can't tell what I'm copying and what not, I think I draw as much as possible from any of them
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by TMB
Re: Your biggest influence
I listen to tons of folk music so when deciding my "biggest influences," I'm choosing artists or bands I have listened to the most frequently and attentively, either in person or on recordings. The question I ask then are which CDs do I play over and over again and learn lots of tunes from or, if it's someone I actually play tunes with at sessions, is it someone whose playing I watch intently hoping some of their amazing technique and musicality comes to me via osmosis.
It comes out to be an incredibly random and diverse range of styles.
Some of the people I'm listing (very few) are indeed friends and a few have been teachers, but as they have recorded, I'm including them in the list.
For uilleann pipes: David Power, Jerry O'Sullivan, Seamus Ennis, Ronan Browne, Dicky Deegan, Cillian Vallely, Mick O'Brian, Eamon Dillon, Paddy Maloney, Padraic Mac Mathuna, Eliot Grasso
For everything else: Natalie McMaster, Michael Coleman, Joe Burke, Andy McGann, Finlay MacDonald, Marc Duff, Paddy Killoran, Daimh, Matt Molloy, John Carty, Gordon Duncan, Tommy Peoples, Stockton's Wing, Dave Adam, Brian Kelly, Sean Keane, The Live at Mona's CD, Harry Bradley, Sharon Shannon
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Your biggest influence
Um, so did anyone not get mentioned?
I have to agree with Al and llig, the biggest influences on me in The Music have been the local friends I play with, most are older folks with vast sums of knowledge, wisdom, and have played for years. There are many wonderful tunes I've learned by ear from them, in addition to dancing, traditions, and so on.
There's not a single commercial artist that has been a bigger influence to me than these folks. Sorry I couldn't help you out.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Your biggest influence
SWFL Fiddler, I have had many similar experiences over the years playing with older musicians at various jam sessions in my alter ego as a bass player but I wasn't going to mention them because PaddyCmusic asked for commercial influences only.
I can understand very well what you are talking about when you mention learning a lot from working with older and more experienced musicians.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Your biggest influence
Let me explain why I only wanted commercial influences named. If this thread was intended for general influences, lots of replies would be similar to
"...oh, that old box player that thought me tunes 20 years ago in my great grandfathers house...etc etc"
It really means nothing to me to know that if I can't associate with the person who you're telling me of. At least with commercially recorded artists, we all know who each other are talking about and can discuss about them.
Yes, my first banjo teacher was a great influence, so was a session leader in the Culthurlann. These helped me and encouraged me greatly, far more than what any music files could do. But do you really care?
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Your biggest influence
Yes, yes I do care, I'd like to hear a lot more stories about him or her. I think that's great. It's vastly more important to have someone near you, hopefully someone you can make friends with, and interact with often, than just listening to recordings.
I'd much rather hear about how personal interaction with someone knowledgable and local you respect has helped you. To me, IMHO, that's a lot more important than listening to big commercial recordings.
But, that's just me. Carry on!
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Your biggest influence
Yes, I do care for one, but it is interesting to hear what kind of people, you can't discuss their skills of course, but it doesn't seem as if the well known ones would be discussed here either.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by TMB
Re: Your biggest influence
sorry, cross-post
AND that should read "i don't know the person but it is interesting..."
My biggest influence would be a local box-player, probably the most consistent sessioneer here which led me to stick to his tunes while learning repertoire.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by TMB
Re: Your biggest influence
Don't even know the man's name.
The accordion player at an Irish wedding I went to many years ago at the Condessa Del Mar in Oak Lawn Illinois, USA.
2 years plus into learning the Box, I still can't figure out how he got things to sound as good.
And then there is the fellow who teaches me- John Williams.
Astounding technique and amazing patience....with me.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by zippydw
Re: Your biggest influence
I hold my hand up and admit to being wrong in my taught so! Anyway, lets not fall out over it.
If you are interested, it was Frank Perry, a banjo teacher who ran his own Comhaltas branch in Monkstown who gave me the initial "push-start." He complimented me endlessly and encouraged me to go to sessions and, ultimately, enter the fleadh. After my very first competition [I didn't get placed], he said; "That's a disgrace, you should have won." While I was not and am not a competitive person, it still meant a lot to me at the time. When you're that young it does I suppose.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Your biggest influence
Now that's good stuff! Well done Frank!
This is how tradition carries on, learn from the local elders, become one yourself, pass it onto the next generation. It's a beautiful thing!
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Your biggest influence
"I'm curious as to who your biggest influences [commercial that is] are and why"
I'm curious as to what you mean by 'commercial', Paddy. Do you mean musicians that you've hear on recordings and in 'performance' as opposed to those you've played with or been taught by? Or do you mean those who are well known? Either way, I don't see that there is such a clearly defined line in traditional music - there is every chance that you will, at some point, encounter your favourite recording artist in a session and share a tune with them.
I too would cite Mick O'Connor as a major influence. but I would not class himas a 'commercial' influence - I was a regular at his sessions for some years and some of his style inevitably seeped in to my playing (not that I haven't also tried consciously to emulate his style). For the same reason, I would cite fiddler Sean Casey (regrettably, I never heard him in his banjo playing days - and came to traditional music a year to late to meet his father). But I would say that I have been equally influenced by dozens of others, most of whose names would mean nothing to most people. By playing with other musicians, you inevitably take on board some of their musical aesthetic and incorporate it into your own playing - even with musicians whose playing I don't particularly like, I sometimes recognise elements of their style in my own playing.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by granama
Re: Your biggest influence
Early on it was Barney McKenna
Now-a-days I can't listen to Kevin Griffin's Across the Pond CD without hearing something new each time that inspires me
But the biggest influence was clearly my grandparents who planted the seeds for this passion long ago and without me really knowing it. I hope this will inspire all you parents and grandparents out there - keep playing this music for your children - it seeps in even while they are scorning it for pop music.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Your biggest influence
Jeez you're hard to please granama
(joke)
Yeah, recorded artists was what I originally intended for the thread though some people will see many 'big names' as 'close friends.' Come on, I did my best
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Your biggest influence
My influences just plain rock!
Jimmy Page on Mandolin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5zUqpK65p0
Robin Trower - I Can't Wait Much Longer - 1975
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVlU33IpREI
Van Halen Guitar solo 1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFQCNJc7EG8
Lunasa live in Spinone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvXVOvmI-Xw
The Pogues - If I Should Fall from Grace with God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrBLqp-s__o
Flogging Molly - Float
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Ek1UuyFAM
The Tossers - Siobhan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fy9v7wpcbA
Dervish with Dan Stacey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oqpPXDwXcA
Old Blind Dogs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCjFIJ8gu7w
Bruce Molsky with Julie Fowlis - The Blackest Crow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6jh1vqNvMs
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Your biggest influence
Well, it was back in the early to mid 70’s that I realized I *had* to start playing this music, so I suppose my biggest influences were the folks I was listening to at that seminal time – Peter Knight (Steeleye), Boys of the Lough, the Chieftains, De Danann, some unknown musicians on tapes from Radio Free Georgia. Later on, everybody else. I also learned a good bit from friends, especially Moira Nelligan.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Your biggest influence
The majority of my influences are local players, or friends that I've met through this site, many of whom could be "commercial" players if they chose that path in life.
But if I had to list my single biggest "commercial" influence, it would definitely be John Carty, through years of listening and personal interaction.
Above and beyond that, there have been some very distinct influences from Roger Landes, Padraig Mac Donnchadha, Kevin Crawford, Luke Plumb, Matt Heaton, and Dave Cory - a few of whom I consider personal friends as well.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Your biggest influence
Great names. But Darby O'Gill, Lucky Charms commercials, the Irish Spring soap jingle, the Molokai leprechaun colony, green alligators and long necked geese also deserve mention.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by NEW Pure Drop® Ear Canal Oil
Re: Your biggest influence
These days, increasingly the people I play along with - and getting the hang of their tunes and ways (the Elm Tree Monday style, the Elm Tree Tuesday style, and the various Dun Cow traditions...).
Seminal influences weren't ITM but were in one way or another oddly connected: Gilbert and Sullivan, Incredible String Band, Geordie songs (I'm not one, but grew up nearby), and the inimitable Northumbrian piping of Billy Pigg.
When I graduated from whistle to D/G melodeon, I wrapped myself round Norfolk player Tony Hall's record "Fieldvole Music" and learnt what I could from that. He played the run-of-the-mill Hohner Pokerwork melodeon with a lyricism it seemed no other English box player was even trying to achieve at that time. Definitely my no.1 box influence.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by nicholas
Re: Your biggest influence
Joe Cooley,Tony MacMahon,Seamus Ennis,Willie Clancy,John J.Kimmel,Noel Hill,Peter Horan,John Kelly.............
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by dinn2
Re: Your biggest influence
Just a few, from a long time ago...
Edn Hammons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbjsdrlnq0
Skip James
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nBIyzEQYNY&feature=related
John Hurt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-GN-BP_Qlk
John Renbourn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1R4Z_4WPy4
Bert Jansch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mGV5pDDsM&feature=related
Dick Gaughan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q38wBcVdJXM
Derroll Adams, Bob, Donovan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN6gqot02Zk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZuD8NwX_eY&feature=related
CSN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAT2KldikME&feature=related
Sandy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xag3vLtsO-k
Swarbrick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj0zvP8j3Hs&feature=related
Richard Thompson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF61W7SGNxU&feature=related
Hawkwind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRw_rvrXQiQ&feature=related
Joni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFxxNj2OZDw
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Your biggest influence
I would like to thank Planxty, Stockton's Wing, the Bothy Band, Andy Irvine & Paul Brady, Jimmy Crowley & Stoker's Lodge, Dolores Keane & John Faulkner, Matt Molloy, and all the others who used to do the folk festivals back in the 70's.
And more recently, Danu, Dervish, Lunasa, Angelina Carberry, Kevin Griffin, Na Connerys, the folks on the Cobblestones and the Live at Matt Molloy's CDs.
And Supply, Demand, and Curve ... anyone remember them?
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by grego
Re: Your biggest influence
Look at that: Google can find anything!
http://www.irishshowbands.net/bgsupply.htm
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by grego
Re: Your biggest influence
For me no influence, whether for the music, repetoire, or my instrument, is greater than SF Bay Area mandolin player Marla Fibish. Second would be the other great musicians who host sessions at the Plough & Stars in SF. I really can't say that any recording artists I listen too have been nearly so important for me, although the box player I play tunes with has introduced me to a lot of box recordings, and Josephine Marsh and Johnny B. Connolly are current strong influences for me.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Your biggest influence
Dubliners, Chieftains, the McPeakes, all in early 1960s.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Your biggest influence
I am seriously resistant to influence by big stars. Not out of jealousy or anything like that, but because I know they're doing it for a living and I'm not, and I would make myself very unhappy indeed were I to try to emulate any of 'em. 99.5% of the influences I've had come from the hairy-arses in Bude and environs with whom I play the chunes. But if you're asking who got me going in this sublime pastime of ours, I wouldn't be here today had I not bought a super-cheap compilation double LP about 25 years ago that had, among other things, several tracks by Planxty, De Dannan, the Bothies and a few others. It was the best £4.99 I ever spent, even if I did have to put up with a Billy Connolly track or two (funny bastard though, innee!) In later years I loved Ron Kavana in all his manifestations, though in the last few years he seems to have gone really funny...I wish the bugger would just stick to playing chunes!
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Your biggest influence
Sandy Denny turns up in at least one list above. I missed hearing her in her time, but tracks I've heard recently assure me her singing was every bit as good as it's been cracked up to be - it's clear, soft, unpretentious, and right on the rhythm or note.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by nicholas
Re: Your biggest influence
Paddy - the only people you can really get infulenced from are the people you play with every day......you cant just listen to albums and expect to get great - youve got to go to sessions and listen, listen, listen. You can listen to albums as a tool - but the fact is, unless you get to see what people are doing as well as hear it you'll get nowhere.
If you want commercial though - Kevin Glackin as well - but only cause I took lessons from him for about a year.....
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by bb
Re: Your biggest influence
bb, while I agree with what you're saying to some extent, I believe that commercial recordings can provoke an influence. For beginners it may spark an initial interest and for advanced (using the term loosely) players they may develop a new style or mindset from some genius musician.
I know had I never heard Mick O'Connor or Padraig Mac Dhonncha, my style would be different that it currently is.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Your biggest influence
Reg Hall.
Reg Hall.
Reg Hall.
I'm a "less-is-more" kind of backer, what can I say?
Also the Pogues (who taught me that this music can have humor and a bit of a snotty-nosed, pished-off attitude, which suits me perfectly right now). And the Clancy Brothers. Plus dozens more.
Very recently, I've discovered Geraldine Cotter; I love her playing, and especially her style, which is interesting without being too busy. IMHO. I can't wait to get her newer piano/whistle tutorial CD/book.
And the truly wonderful people at my local sessions, who continue to twist my arm to keep showing up, even when I feel like I'm WAY out of my league.
Enough hugging. Did I mention Reg Hall?
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by tomw
Re: Your biggest influence
Yngwie Malmsteen, Gerry O'Connor,Eileen Ivers...
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by riada
Re: Your biggest influence
I have to disagree a bit with ye bb there. While i do think going to sessions and listening is one of the major influences on almost everybody there are countless musicians that have been influenced by recordings without having seen what someone is doing. You wont pick up little ornamentations by going to sessions where people will really be keeping it simple so as not to unbalance it. And if someone is doing little things and fancy runs chances are you won't be able to pick it up in a group situation like that when everybody is playing, you know.
take the old 1920s recordings of morrison, coleman, killoran etc. There are hundreds of fiddle players influenced by them, but none of them have seen what they did, they only have recordings to go by. Good musicians are able to pick up things without having to actually see it in action, like you can tell up bows from down bows, little intinations and other things just by listening. Take john carty and frankie gavin for example, you can totally hear the influence that these recordings have had. And another good example is patsy tuohey, brilliant 1800s piper, and you can hear his influence in all the great pipers from liam o'flynn to sean mckeon. So i don't think that you'll get 'nowhere' from just listening to recordings, of course seeing what is being done is a great help but without it its not like you are going to get nowhere. I know that listening to recordings have had a greater influence on me than actually going to fiddle classes.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: Your biggest influence
I think you can learn a heck of a lot from good records, I think I did. And I'm not so sure that you have to see people play, if anything, it could be a distraction. For example, I learned to play that back beat thing in reels with an up bow, so I learned the bowing back to front. Sounds the same though.
(I don't do that accenting the back beat anymore, I freed myself from that constriction).
But I'll always remember saying to myself, while listening to "If The Cap Fits" for the zillionth time, that when I can play toss the feathers like kevin burke, I'll be able to play the fiddle. But when I eventually could, I was able also to realise, that that was no measure of really being able to play the fiddle at all. All I was able to do was to play the fiddle like Kevin Burke.
I'm not dissing Burke's playing or bigging up my own. Quite the reverse. He's a terrific player with a fantastic style all of his own. It's just that to slavishly ape it, while being an important learning progression, is ultimately a creative dead end.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Your biggest influence
I just read that post and it sounds more than a tad arrogant. Sorry, It's not the meaning or tone I intended. When I said, "All I was able to do was to play the fiddle like Kevin Burke" what I meant was that all I'd done was slavishly copy one rendition of one tune.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Your biggest influence
So llig, do you think that your slavishly copying Burke on one tune was helpful to you in the long run? I mean, did you learn anything specific that you use to this day?
I have often thought about trying to completely dissect some of my favorite tracks to learn some tricks. (Like John Carty's bass double stops on banjo thrown in the melody of Steampacket, for instance).
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Reverend
Re: Your biggest influence
Gerry O'Connor (the 'Journeyman' album) - my main inspiration
and Matt Cranitch, Adrian Barker, Paddy Glackin, Paddy Keenan,
Frankie Gavin (the 1st album), Andy McGann, the Kane Sisters, Martin Hayes, Mary McNamara
-- I wish I could hear more of Mark Donnellan, the king of swing
My own style could be described as ...
"well he's better than he was last year"
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Hup
Re: Your biggest influence
fiddlerurai - on what planet is it a good thing to have hundreds of people sounding like one famous musician? That is exactly the reason I think its bad just to try and pick up things from recordings........to avoid the clones...
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by bb
Re: Your biggest influence
What I meant was - its good to do it all, go to sessions, listen to cds, travel o/s and live in Ireland etc etc all of it...
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by bb
Re: Your biggest influence
Oh yes, copying note for note, nuance for nuance is very important. It's all about learning by ear, prooving to yourself that you are hearing everthing. We often talk about the importance of putting your own stamp on it, but your stamp must be well informed otherwise it's not the music anymore, it's just some free form stuff you made up. Nothing wrong with that, of course, if that's your bag, but but I think the music matters.
As someone said on a previous thread, "If you don't wish to conform to a preconceived concept of what Irish music sounds like, then you can play tunes as you choose. It may not sound like Irish Music, but so what?"
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Your biggest influence
whoa, calm down! i never said that it was good to have hundreds of fiddle players sounding the same.
i said that there are hundreds of fiddle players that are 'influenced' by them. being influenced by a recording is totally different to copying something. if someone learns a little run or ornamentation or something like a chord than the prerogative should be to use it in other tunes.
Of course i realise that there is a whole combination of experiences that contribute to someones development but i dont think that you'll get nowhere by just listening to recordings.
if you're talking about starting from scratch however then definately yes, but i think the thread is just about recordings that you have heard that have helped mould you're playing apart from going to sessions and classes, whether its a tune you play, the way you play a roll, your bowing, not necessarily playing exactly like someone. i think everyone here has been to a session or classes, so i dont think we're relying just on recordings here.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: Your biggest influence
hmm, interesting point about "i don't think that you'll get nowhere by just listening to recordings."
I understand what you are talking about and I do appreciate the value of recordings (provided they are the best of course), especially in the early stages. However, It is a kind of artistic and cultural cul-de-sac, so are you effectively getting nowhere or not?
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Your biggest influence
lol, yea i suppose its a matter of what you term as nowhere! i suppose in my own view, if you just listen to cds and you learn a couple of tunes and some ornamentations etc., i wouldn't say that it is nowhere. I know that there is only so much you can gain from cds and that the possibilities with sessions and basic interaction with other musicians and their playing is endless. But then again on the other hand everybody is different so i suppose its what use you make of the recordings you have, because listening to something like coleman doesn't guarantee anything. Its really subjective.
So now that i think about it, theres really now way to answer your question! lol.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: Your biggest influence
oh and just to add quickly to that, i know that with me everytime i listen to a (good) cd, it doesn't matter how many times i listen i always find something new, whether its a tune i noticed before or not or something small, i always get that from good recordings. so again really subjective.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: Your biggest influence
As fiddleruairi put it, many fiddler have been influenced from the 78rpm discs of the 1920s. I think we can all agree that an obvious influence comes from recordings, even todays ones, not just the oldies. Of course, listening to recordings alone is not healthy. You can technically learn a lot. Your ear becomes trained, you pick up nuances from the player but interaction is a part of the passing on of the tradition too.
As for 'clones', I believe people should listen to who they like. Various combinations of players you listen to will have a different output on how your own style develops (or continues to develop.)
For example, I picked up a lot from Kieran Hanrahan when I went to a handful of classes. I ended up using the guitar flicking a lot in my playing and putting more emphasis by hitting base strings. But I preffered to play triplets like Brian Fitzgerald (on recordings) does them (sparingly and very crisp.) Influences with variations and approaches to tunes were picked up from recordings of Mick O'Connor and Finbarr Dwyer (amongst others) whom I already mentioned.
All of these influences come together and contribute to my own style, which I haven't heard anyone copy or anyone say that I was copying another musician. However, I've still a long journey ahead of me.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Your biggest influence
Charlie Piggott, Andrew MacNamara, Josephine Marsh, Verena Commins, Pat O'Connor, Paddy Canny, Mary MacNamara, Claire Keville. I play the box, and all these people ahd a big influence on me, about style, tunes, rhythm,...
# Posted on May 27th 2008 by Paolcer
Re: Your biggest influence
Note: given in alphabetical order.
Whistle/Flute: Sylvain Barou, Kevin Crawford, Brian Finnegan, Nuala Kennedy, Mike McGoldrick, Brendan Ring, Garry Shannon, Gavin Whelan.
Pipes: Mick Coyne, Todd Denman, Eliot Grasso, Jarlath Henderson, Mike Katz, Paddy Keenan, Brian McNamara, John McSherry, Fred Morrison, Mick O'Brien, Liam O'Flynn, Cillian Vallely.
Groups: Back of the Moon, Beòlach, Calico, Cian, Comas, Deaf Shepherd, Elandir, Fine Friday, Flook, Lúnasa, Mulcahy Family, Tipsy House.
Writers and Arrangers: Phil Cunningham, Donal Lunny, John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick, Diarmaid Moynihan, Simon Thoumire.
# Posted on May 30th 2008 by bdh
Re: Your biggest influence
Hashish and Earl Grey Tea
# Posted on June 1st 2008 by Bodhi
Re: Your biggest influence
Banjo: Kieran Hanrahan
Bouzouki: Donal Lunny
Mandolin: Andy Irvine
And every session I've ever been to.
# Posted on June 9th 2008 by faerierade