When I was a kid I heard the irish stuff & thought it was neat, but most of the guys who really drew me to the fiddle didn't play irish jigs & reels. So here's a hat's off to some of the most bad ass fiddlers that ever stepped foot on this world. I'd have to say that Vassar Clements was one of my first real tastes on the Old & In the Way album. I thought it would be just another Grateful Dead record, what a surprise. Papa John Creach was next in line with his Hot Tuna stuff, he's the reason I got my sisters fiddle worked up back to playing condition. As far as jazz guys of course there's Stephen Grapelli & the lesser known but down & dirtier Joe Venuti. He never got the credit he deserved, he was less acrobatic about his playing than Grapelli but had way more soul. There was another guy I used to go & see named Billy Bang who was four & a half feet of energy with a white electric fiddle, playing the most out there jazz you'll ever hear. He'd dance up & down the bar at Bar 55 on Christopher St. Those guys had a lot to do with me picking up the fiddle. They made it look so easy & fun... Bastards
Anyway, shortly after I started learning fiddle I was lucky enough to meet Papa John Creach after a show he did. I wasn't sure if it was him or not so I asked, "Do you play the fiddle?" & he replied, "Shee-it, I don't play the fiddle boy, I saw wood!" Nicest wood sawing I ever heard.
So anybody got there own favorites outside of the ITM world & stories to share?
It was the fiddling of Johnny Gimble and Keith Coleman that first really hooked me. Once I started playing the fiddle, Frenchie Burke was a big influence on me as well. Texas has a great fiddle tradition. So often nowadays many are trying to show connections between Bluegrass and Celtic music. Personally, I think Texas fiddling is closer to Celtic music than Bluegrass.
Cheers
Sean
Interestingly enough, it was the playing of Natalie MacMaster that first got me hooked on playing "fiddle" music. From there I branched off into Irish music...and you know the rest of the story.
Other than Celtic players, I really love the playing of Stuff Smith, a jazz player from the early 20th century.
Cara
At the age of ten my parents gave me the choice between either piano or violin lessons. Not much later when I had started playing the violin I first heard old time string band music, bluegrass etc. My favourites were The New Lost City Ramblers with Mike Seeger on the fiddle. I soon realized there was a different and very attractive approach to my instrument. More fun than I ever got out of my violin lessons.
Svend Asmussen is a grand old Danish fiddler in the Stephan Grapelli style---arguably better and playing for as long. First heard his albums in the early sixties but had the pleasure of seeing him live a few years ago. Thoroughly recommended.
Vassar Clements - what a genius. But since this is a thread moving away from Irish trad, in the spirit of a hijack, let me hijack it even more and mention Flaco Jimenez, Tejano-Mexicano box player. Roy Richards, club-ska hamonica player. All those women in La Mystere des Voix Bulgares....etc..
Another fine fiddler from Denmark is Harald Haugaard. Still very young but is doing great things for Danish traditional music. He's been over in Scotland too at Celtic Connections and played with the "The Bow Brothers", a showcase of some of the top fiddlers of today.
Konsta Jylhä was a fine fiddler from Western Finland, who died sometime in the 1980s. I can't call myself a conoisseur of Finnish fiddle music, but I spent a month in Finland in the summer of 1997. I think of him as the Finnish Charlie Lennon - or rather, I think of Charlie Lennon as the Irish Konsta Jylhä, as I first heard Charlie Lennon only last year. Both have many self-composed tunes to their names, and they share a certain something in their music - something too ethereal to be called sentimentality, but too earthly to be called magic.
My favourite fiddlers :
- Stuffy Smith, that good 'ol violin jazz
- Svend Asmussen, a little more elaborate, but still calm
- Didier Lockwood (great concerts)
- Marc O'Conner (Nashville Cats CD)
I used to like Byron Berline, but it's been so long since I gave him a listen, I can't say whether I'd still like his playing or not. I recall it being smooth and seamless. Benny Thomasson was great for that smoothness and tremendous swing. I could listen to him all day. Then there's David Swayne, who used to play with Live Wire Choir, and I really wish Allison Krause would step back from the singing more often and just play fiddle--big phat tone and great riffs, without getting carried off into showiness.
Vassar is just mind-blowing. Great musicality--his riffs are always tied to the tune, but reaching for the moon, and such a unique, rich sound. He played recently for a tv special, and he hasn't lost a thing.
I've also always been partial to Nadja Salerno Solenberg's heart-and-soul approach to classical. And Turtle Island for taking string quartets beyond tuxedos. And Yo-Yo Ma (no, it's not a fiddle, but it's close enough .
The best fiddler I have ever heard or seen (and I have had the pleasure of seeing him three times at Ronnie Scotts now), is Roby Lakatos who is a Hungarian gypsy player with a stunning band. If you ever have the opportunity you must catch him live - the stuff he does defies belief!
He updates the traditional gypsy stuff with a jazz feel but while never losing the fire. And he always looks so relaxed while those fingers fly - a revelation.
Annbjorg Lien (Norway) is excellent. I think she collaborated with Liz Doherty a few times. Also have to agree with above mentions of Papa John Creach, Joe Venuti and Roby Lakatos. Some great Breton fiddlers include Padraig Sicard, Christian Lemaitre and (my favourite) Jacky Molard.
hey, sean, do u live in texas ? for me, kenny baker defies belief..musical ideas and a smoothness like butter..i've played with him a time or two..grappelli was our son, stephane's, honorary godfather..he used to send us postcards from around the world..what a dear man..his 'live at carnegie hall' has an extended cadenza at the end of 'nuage' that is unique in length and brilliance..mark o'connor seems to have to demonstrate his virtuosity on every tune which puts me off some...and there's many more...i love this site...every day is like christmas..printing out mostly jigs of the minor key/modal type..bless you all..david in austin, tx...
Yeah I like the Wrigley sisters. They performed in Vermont a little while back. Lovely music! Also, outside of the Irish fiddlers, I like Buddy McMaster, Jerry Holland, John McCusker, & Catriona MacDonald (saw her live at Gaelic Roots this past summer)...I'm sure there are a few other I have in my collection that are really good also....
But I'm so hooked on the Irish right now that other genres have taken a back seat....
Rodney Miller (from New England) is someone I haven't seen much mention of. Someone lent
me a taped copy of his (seminal) Airplang album a few years ago and I
wore it out. I still think it's fantastic (as are all the others).
He was at Sidmouth folk festival this year and I had the pleasure of
listening to a couple of his gigs, and even playing next to him in a
session... joy! I think it's probably because he's primarily a dance
fiddler (contradance) and I think that that gets one near to the heart
of the music. Other fiddlers: Alasdair Fraser was probably the one
that first got me into fiddling, and I still think he's great
(although perhaps a little "polished" for my tastes now... you can't
win). Jerry Holland plays wonderfully and loads of his own, fantastic
tunes. The Swap fiddlers are Ola Backstrom and Carina Normansson and
are indeed excellent. I've been learning the title track off the
"Mosquito Hunter" album... what an amazing tune!
I'm glad you mentioned Dave Swarbrick, Touchy. I like the way he drives the dance tunes and the way he and Richard Thompson (guitar) play off each other in the improv sections - some really magic stuff!
OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
When I was a kid I heard the irish stuff & thought it was neat, but most of the guys who really drew me to the fiddle didn't play irish jigs & reels. So here's a hat's off to some of the most bad ass fiddlers that ever stepped foot on this world. I'd have to say that Vassar Clements was one of my first real tastes on the Old & In the Way album. I thought it would be just another Grateful Dead record, what a surprise. Papa John Creach was next in line with his Hot Tuna stuff, he's the reason I got my sisters fiddle worked up back to playing condition. As far as jazz guys of course there's Stephen Grapelli & the lesser known but down & dirtier Joe Venuti. He never got the credit he deserved, he was less acrobatic about his playing than Grapelli but had way more soul. There was another guy I used to go & see named Billy Bang who was four & a half feet of energy with a white electric fiddle, playing the most out there jazz you'll ever hear. He'd dance up & down the bar at Bar 55 on Christopher St. Those guys had a lot to do with me picking up the fiddle. They made it look so easy & fun... Bastards
Anyway, shortly after I started learning fiddle I was lucky enough to meet Papa John Creach after a show he did. I wasn't sure if it was him or not so I asked, "Do you play the fiddle?" & he replied, "Shee-it, I don't play the fiddle boy, I saw wood!" Nicest wood sawing I ever heard.
So anybody got there own favorites outside of the ITM world & stories to share?
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by Mad Baloney
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
It was the fiddling of Johnny Gimble and Keith Coleman that first really hooked me. Once I started playing the fiddle, Frenchie Burke was a big influence on me as well. Texas has a great fiddle tradition. So often nowadays many are trying to show connections between Bluegrass and Celtic music. Personally, I think Texas fiddling is closer to Celtic music than Bluegrass.
Cheers
Sean
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by txfiddler
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Interestingly enough, it was the playing of Natalie MacMaster that first got me hooked on playing "fiddle" music. From there I branched off into Irish music...and you know the rest of the story.
Other than Celtic players, I really love the playing of Stuff Smith, a jazz player from the early 20th century.
Cara
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by carafiddle
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
At the age of ten my parents gave me the choice between either piano or violin lessons. Not much later when I had started playing the violin I first heard old time string band music, bluegrass etc. My favourites were The New Lost City Ramblers with Mike Seeger on the fiddle. I soon realized there was a different and very attractive approach to my instrument. More fun than I ever got out of my violin lessons.
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by kuec
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Svend Asmussen is a grand old Danish fiddler in the Stephan Grapelli style---arguably better and playing for as long. First heard his albums in the early sixties but had the pleasure of seeing him live a few years ago. Thoroughly recommended.
John
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by Johannes J
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Vassar Clements - what a genius. But since this is a thread moving away from Irish trad, in the spirit of a hijack, let me hijack it even more and mention Flaco Jimenez, Tejano-Mexicano box player. Roy Richards, club-ska hamonica player. All those women in La Mystere des Voix Bulgares....etc..
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by xyz
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Definately:
1) Subramaniam, A genius Tamil fiddler!
2) Ross Daly, Irish/(Greek?)
3) Sergei Erdenko, Russian Gypsy: http://loyko.hypermart.net/
Leif
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by fiel
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Another fine fiddler from Denmark is Harald Haugaard. Still very young but is doing great things for Danish traditional music. He's been over in Scotland too at Celtic Connections and played with the "The Bow Brothers", a showcase of some of the top fiddlers of today.
http://www.hhduo.dk
John
# Posted on October 18th 2003 by Johannes J
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Konsta Jylhä was a fine fiddler from Western Finland, who died sometime in the 1980s. I can't call myself a conoisseur of Finnish fiddle music, but I spent a month in Finland in the summer of 1997. I think of him as the Finnish Charlie Lennon - or rather, I think of Charlie Lennon as the Irish Konsta Jylhä, as I first heard Charlie Lennon only last year. Both have many self-composed tunes to their names, and they share a certain something in their music - something too ethereal to be called sentimentality, but too earthly to be called magic.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by ragaman
BTW, I've just noticed that ethereal is an anagram of earthlee.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by ragaman
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Stephan Grappelli!
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by Murph
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Mark O'Connor & Stewart Duncan (both kinda obvious).
L. Shankar of "Shakti" fame - whoa.
Grappelli too, of course.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by octogreg
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I head Peter Knight form Steeleye Span at at festival this summer - he was outstanding
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by Yohan
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
My favourite fiddlers :
- Stuffy Smith, that good 'ol violin jazz
- Svend Asmussen, a little more elaborate, but still calm
- Didier Lockwood (great concerts)
- Marc O'Conner (Nashville Cats CD)
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by MrGanAinm
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Dewey Balfa
Michael Doucet
Denis McGee
.... Cajun legends all.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by darinkelly
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I used to like Byron Berline, but it's been so long since I gave him a listen, I can't say whether I'd still like his playing or not. I recall it being smooth and seamless. Benny Thomasson was great for that smoothness and tremendous swing. I could listen to him all day. Then there's David Swayne, who used to play with Live Wire Choir, and I really wish Allison Krause would step back from the singing more often and just play fiddle--big phat tone and great riffs, without getting carried off into showiness.
Vassar is just mind-blowing. Great musicality--his riffs are always tied to the tune, but reaching for the moon, and such a unique, rich sound. He played recently for a tv special, and he hasn't lost a thing.
I've also always been partial to Nadja Salerno Solenberg's heart-and-soul approach to classical. And Turtle Island for taking string quartets beyond tuxedos. And Yo-Yo Ma (no, it's not a fiddle, but it's close enough
.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I would say Stewart Duncan over Mark O'Connor.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by llig leahcim
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
The best fiddler I have ever heard or seen (and I have had the pleasure of seeing him three times at Ronnie Scotts now), is Roby Lakatos who is a Hungarian gypsy player with a stunning band. If you ever have the opportunity you must catch him live - the stuff he does defies belief!
He updates the traditional gypsy stuff with a jazz feel but while never losing the fire. And he always looks so relaxed while those fingers fly - a revelation.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by nick b
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I like those fiddle players out of Swap but can't recall their names and haven't got the inlay with me.
# Posted on October 19th 2003 by Dow
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Mmmmm!
Stuff Smith and Joe Venuti for Jazz
Lowe Stokes, Lonnie Austin, Frank George and Eck Robertson (Old -time)
Johnny Gimble (Texas style...his work on Guy Clark's albums is terrific))
Scotty Stoneman, Benny Martin, Kenny Baker and Vassar Clements (bluegrass)
All superb in their own genres
# Posted on October 20th 2003 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Annbjorg Lien (Norway) is excellent. I think she collaborated with Liz Doherty a few times. Also have to agree with above mentions of Papa John Creach, Joe Venuti and Roby Lakatos. Some great Breton fiddlers include Padraig Sicard, Christian Lemaitre and (my favourite) Jacky Molard.
Conán
# Posted on October 20th 2003 by Conán McDonnell
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I forgot to mention Dave Swarbrick, I like him too.
# Posted on October 20th 2003 by Mad Baloney
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Yes, Conan! Annbjorg is fantastic! I met her at VOM in 2001 and she is a great person in addition to being a really dynamic hardanger fiddle player.
# Posted on October 20th 2003 by esfiddle
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
hey, sean, do u live in texas ? for me, kenny baker defies belief..musical ideas and a smoothness like butter..i've played with him a time or two..grappelli was our son, stephane's, honorary godfather..he used to send us postcards from around the world..what a dear man..his 'live at carnegie hall' has an extended cadenza at the end of 'nuage' that is unique in length and brilliance..mark o'connor seems to have to demonstrate his virtuosity on every tune which puts me off some...and there's many more...i love this site...every day is like christmas..printing out mostly jigs of the minor key/modal type..bless you all..david in austin, tx...
# Posted on October 20th 2003 by hugedave
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Check out Raczar Lopatic, from the American Serbo-Croatian band Sviraj.
# Posted on October 21st 2003 by Juizgax
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I forgot Clark Kessinger (old time)!
# Posted on October 22nd 2003 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Jennifer Wrigley-Orkney
Aly Bain-Shetland
Steve Wickham- the Waterboys
# Posted on October 22nd 2003 by domino
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Yeah I like the Wrigley sisters. They performed in Vermont a little while back. Lovely music! Also, outside of the Irish fiddlers, I like Buddy McMaster, Jerry Holland, John McCusker, & Catriona MacDonald (saw her live at Gaelic Roots this past summer)...I'm sure there are a few other I have in my collection that are really good also....
But I'm so hooked on the Irish right now that other genres have taken a back seat....
Joyce
# Posted on October 23rd 2003 by JMH
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Rodney Miller (from New England) is someone I haven't seen much mention of. Someone lent me a taped copy of his (seminal) Airplang album a few years ago and I wore it out. I still think it's fantastic (as are all the others). He was at Sidmouth folk festival this year and I had the pleasure of listening to a couple of his gigs, and even playing next to him in a session... joy! I think it's probably because he's primarily a dance fiddler (contradance) and I think that that gets one near to the heart of the music. Other fiddlers: Alasdair Fraser was probably the one that first got me into fiddling, and I still think he's great (although perhaps a little "polished" for my tastes now... you can't win). Jerry Holland plays wonderfully and loads of his own, fantastic tunes. The Swap fiddlers are Ola Backstrom and Carina Normansson and are indeed excellent. I've been learning the title track off the "Mosquito Hunter" album... what an amazing tune!
# Posted on October 23rd 2003 by rog
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I'm partial to
Wilson Douglas
Paul Warren
Lyman Enloe
-dogma
# Posted on October 23rd 2003 by dogmageek
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
Yehudi Menhuin & Stephane Grappelli.
Then Nigel Kennedy (playing in the Kennedy Experience).
Also Hungarian/Transylvannian group Tukros.
# Posted on October 26th 2003 by Greenwiggle
Re: OT: Favorite fiddlers outside Irish
I'm glad you mentioned Dave Swarbrick, Touchy. I like the way he drives the dance tunes and the way he and Richard Thompson (guitar) play off each other in the improv sections - some really magic stuff!
# Posted on October 27th 2003 by greenman