I love Andy Irvine's playing. His style is unique. There's some lovely playing on his 'Rain on the Roof' album, not to mention all the other work he's done.
I like mandolin players who know how smoke a Cuban cigar correctly, never use an inappropriate wig glue, can tell the difference between mutton khottu and squid fried string hoppers, never fart in a smelly fashion, read all the Jeffrey Archer novels, have not been abducted and probed by visiting aliens, can tie their own shoe laces, support Accrington Stanley, only cross dress on Wednesdays whether it’s a session nite or not, have ginger beards, collect hot water bottles (of the famous), live in a VW RV parked in Peckham or Belgravia, can play all the tunes from Mary Poppins and never watch Emmerdale unless it’s the third Tues of the month.
As for mandolin players, I like really obscure musicians whom nobody has never not heard of.
As for sandwiches, I prefer turkey, chicken, or beef with cheese (American Cheddar or Swiss), mustard, mayonnaise, tomato, and lettuce. And I prefer my sandwich on a plain bun instead of a sesame seed bun.
Andy Irvine
Mick Moloney
Dave Swarbrick (Farirport Convention, Whippersnapper, solo........ and listen to the early Carthy/Swarbrick albums and you'll hear some great innovative mando accompaniment which predates Irvine and Planxty by five years or more)
Martin Jenkins (played it more in the 70s, Dandoshaft, Hedgehog Pie; later on concentrated on the bigger mandos
Richard Thompson
Martin Carthy (really unique when he occasionally played mandolin - not that different from his guitar playing)
Terry Woods (Woods Band, Gay & Terry Woods, Sweeney's Men - usually mandola)
Chris Leslie (Whippersnapper, Fairport)
Dave Pegg (Fairport, Tull)
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Peter Knight (Steeleye Span)
Charles O'Connor (Horslips - also played electric mandolin which sounded much more like an electric guitar)
Was it really such a strange question? Several people have kindly come up with interesting suggestions, some of which I have been able to follow up, and now I'm enjoying listening to Seamus Egan.
Don't any women play mandolin? Maybe I just missed a name. I think Angelina Carberry's banjo playing is top-notch, but rarely see her name listed among the best banjo players. It's not possible that ITM players are biased, is it?
I often see or hear Angelina Carberry's name come up when banjo players are discussed. Some folks don't find her all that interesting but many (like myself) enjoy her playing quite a bit.
I think in this music people who are primarily mandolin players are compared with other instrumentalists, relatively few. In light of that I don't think it odd that there are not many women. I don't think it's a strange question at all but a good way to hear about new players to listen to.
I'd almost forgotten what a great mandolin player Dave Swarbrick is. Thanks to Niles H for jopgging my memory.
The late Louis McManus is another great player with a sadly small legacy of recorded music.
I like all the ones mentioned, and some of the people I meet at festivals but you wouldn't hear otherwise, like Shetlanders Stewart Pottinger and Christine Hughson.
For Scottish mandolin, you'll find great recordings by
Kevin MacLeod - solo recordings and also with Alec Finn 7 Luke Plumb
Dagger Gordon,
then try Dan Beimborn who also
is on a great selection of YouTube videos,
Nigel Gatherer's website is great
Then there's the likes of David Grisman , who probably be the most recurrent name if everyone had to list their top ten mandolinists,
or Andy Statman, guys who play bluegrass/klezmer/gipsy/irish whatever
the sadly now-deceased Butch Baldassari who made many recordings including some Irish
Jacob do Bandolim and the whole crew of Brazilian choro players who followed.
and any number of fiddlers, guitarists and banjo players who will surprise you with their skills when they pick up a mandolin
It's a most portable and adaptable instrument, but probably at its worst in pub sessions, ironically!
Floss - glad to hear a mention for Martin Murray. I was given a CD of his years ago where the mandolin and banjo playing is great but I looked him up and found he's not primarily known as a mandolin player
Yeah you right oldstrings, but it was the only proper mandolin orchestra tune. I just gotta have the Can-Can. But ...."weep"...."sigh"......no dancers........
I doubt that there's much of a bias against women, I think it's more that the general percentage of mandolin players is heavily weighted on the side of men, for some reason... Maybe it's that the women that are biased against the instrument!
Actually, I quite like the mandolin playing of Marla Fibish in San Francisco.
I'd also second the vote for Luke Plumb. He is one of the most amazing musicians around. And Roger Landes, who is more known for his bouzouki playing, is quite a mandolin player as well.
Grissman once played a free to the public, paid for by city council show in the small town where I lived. Beautiful sunny day, courthouse lawn, giant killer sound system, people were dancing in the grass and loving it. Right in the middle of a tune about halfway through the show, he stopped the band and said angrily to the crowd " Sit down, shut up and listen. This is not dance music, it's listening music". Many people left, those of us that stayed felt kinda bewildered, muttering sheesh what'd we do Dave we were just dancing and having fun. Not as if we couldn't hear ya. What ya got 10'000 watts blastin at us? It was hard to appreciate his music after his outburst. He hasn't been invited back since. Tim O'Brian has played in the same town quite a few times. Now Tim is an impressive and kindhearted player who shows great appreciation for the crowd. Tim gets invited back regularly. People dance in the aisles at his concerts. He loves his crowd.
I recently stumbled on Sam Bartlett playing Mandolin and banjo. Check out his Evil Diane album, not to mention his ramblings on "Stuntology" Really nice music
I have to agree on Luke Plumb and Kevin Macleod too.
Of course it wasn't a strange question. Some people seem to take perverse pleasure in providing stupid answers. Certainly makes you wonder. Chris Thile is a wonderful mandolin player and there are many YouTube offerings which feature him.
As mentioned above, Simon Mayor is a great player, though not really active in the genre we favour on this forum. I like some of Paul Kelly's stuff, and was very impressed by Fiontán Ó Meachair's CD.
Having said that, I almost never listen to this stuff, and as a mandolin player I seek my influences in fiddles, pipes and the like.
I was just going to mention Marla Fibish but Reverend beat me to it I see! I quite like the playing of Brian Taheny as well - from Sligo, emigrated to Canada.
Have to agree whole-heartedly with Kenny there I have been watching this thread waiting for someone to mention Paul Brady as a mandolinist. Really can't beat that set of tunes for trad mando.
Which mandolin players do you like?
Which mandolin players do you like?
Maybe it's just my own experience, but the mandolin seems more popular than it used to be.
Who do the mandolin players look to for inspiration?
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Bernie 29
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Mick Moloney. - especially his 7-part version of "The Kilfenora" Jig, with Paul Brady on dulcimer.
Kieran Hanrahan.
Seamus Egan.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Kenny
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I love Andy Irvine's playing. His style is unique. There's some lovely playing on his 'Rain on the Roof' album, not to mention all the other work he's done.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by amhrán
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Luke Plumb
Kevin MacLeod
Dave Surrette
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Steve L
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Albee Tellone of St. Vitus Dance band.....great group of musicians all-round!
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by baylady
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Tim O'Brien.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by kuec
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I like mandolin players who know how smoke a Cuban cigar correctly, never use an inappropriate wig glue, can tell the difference between mutton khottu and squid fried string hoppers, never fart in a smelly fashion, read all the Jeffrey Archer novels, have not been abducted and probed by visiting aliens, can tie their own shoe laces, support Accrington Stanley, only cross dress on Wednesdays whether it’s a session nite or not, have ginger beards, collect hot water bottles (of the famous), live in a VW RV parked in Peckham or Belgravia, can play all the tunes from Mary Poppins and never watch Emmerdale unless it’s the third Tues of the month.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by yhaalhouse
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I don't know because in the sessions I go to I can never hear them.
This makes it rather difficult to gauge the quality of their output.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by nicholas
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Frank Cullen
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by JudeThomas
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
dammit yhaalhouse - you'd rule me out on the shoe laces?
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by showaddydadito
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I know some guys who match yhaalhouse's profile to a T.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Shoelaces? Nowadays the definition of childhood achievement is doing up your own Velcro
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Now they got iPhone apps which tie your shoe laces for you. Hadn't you heard?
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
yhaalhouse -
No mention of trousers?
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Jimmy B
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
To get back to the OP.
I like Low Profile and Sugarfoot Jack.
And Shirley.
And Mike from Congleton - I nearly forgot him.
But this won't mean anything to most of the people who read here. Strange question really. A bit like asking what you like in your sandwiches.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by showaddydadito
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
As for mandolin players, I like really obscure musicians whom nobody has never not heard of.
As for sandwiches, I prefer turkey, chicken, or beef with cheese (American Cheddar or Swiss), mustard, mayonnaise, tomato, and lettuce. And I prefer my sandwich on a plain bun instead of a sesame seed bun.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by fauxcelt
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
For players of Irish/UK folk, folk-rock
Andy Irvine
Mick Moloney
Dave Swarbrick (Farirport Convention, Whippersnapper, solo........ and listen to the early Carthy/Swarbrick albums and you'll hear some great innovative mando accompaniment which predates Irvine and Planxty by five years or more)
Martin Jenkins (played it more in the 70s, Dandoshaft, Hedgehog Pie; later on concentrated on the bigger mandos
Richard Thompson
Martin Carthy (really unique when he occasionally played mandolin - not that different from his guitar playing)
Terry Woods (Woods Band, Gay & Terry Woods, Sweeney's Men - usually mandola)
Chris Leslie (Whippersnapper, Fairport)
Dave Pegg (Fairport, Tull)
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Peter Knight (Steeleye Span)
Charles O'Connor (Horslips - also played electric mandolin which sounded much more like an electric guitar)
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Niles H
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Simon Mayor seems to be able to get any style of tune out of a mando with aplomb.
µ
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Markplucker
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Was it really such a strange question? Several people have kindly come up with interesting suggestions, some of which I have been able to follow up, and now I'm enjoying listening to Seamus Egan.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Bernie 29
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
That mandolin album by Paul Kelly was nice.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by grego
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Jacob do Bandolim
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
link for above: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ9h3zaypyw
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Don't any women play mandolin? Maybe I just missed a name. I think Angelina Carberry's banjo playing is top-notch, but rarely see her name listed among the best banjo players. It's not possible that ITM players are biased, is it?
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by dfost
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
There were two women playing mandolin at the last session I went to.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Bernie 29
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I often see or hear Angelina Carberry's name come up when banjo players are discussed. Some folks don't find her all that interesting but many (like myself) enjoy her playing quite a bit.
I think in this music people who are primarily mandolin players are compared with other instrumentalists, relatively few. In light of that I don't think it odd that there are not many women. I don't think it's a strange question at all but a good way to hear about new players to listen to.
I'd almost forgotten what a great mandolin player Dave Swarbrick is. Thanks to Niles H for jopgging my memory.
The late Louis McManus is another great player with a sadly small legacy of recorded music.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Steve L
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I like all the ones mentioned, and some of the people I meet at festivals but you wouldn't hear otherwise, like Shetlanders Stewart Pottinger and Christine Hughson.
For Scottish mandolin, you'll find great recordings by
Kevin MacLeod - solo recordings and also with Alec Finn 7 Luke Plumb
Dagger Gordon,
then try Dan Beimborn who also
is on a great selection of YouTube videos,
Nigel Gatherer's website is great
Then there's the likes of David Grisman , who probably be the most recurrent name if everyone had to list their top ten mandolinists,
or Andy Statman, guys who play bluegrass/klezmer/gipsy/irish whatever
the sadly now-deceased Butch Baldassari who made many recordings including some Irish
Jacob do Bandolim and the whole crew of Brazilian choro players who followed.
and any number of fiddlers, guitarists and banjo players who will surprise you with their skills when they pick up a mandolin
It's a most portable and adaptable instrument, but probably at its worst in pub sessions, ironically!
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Bren
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Dennis Cahill. Then there's Martin Murray (of Damp in the Attic fame), John Colfer and Tom Moran.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I like these guys,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzTiK10whdU&feature=related
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Just wish they had some high steppers in a row across the front.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Floss - glad to hear a mention for Martin Murray. I was given a CD of his years ago where the mandolin and banjo playing is great but I looked him up and found he's not primarily known as a mandolin player
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Bren
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Not a proper mandolin orchestra, Boatpiper! Where are the mandocellos, mandobases?
Does anyone know what has happened to the Pay The Reckoning mandolin site?
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Yeah you right oldstrings, but it was the only proper mandolin orchestra tune. I just gotta have the Can-Can. But ...."weep"...."sigh"......no dancers........
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Aidan has recently relaunched the Pay The Reckoning site here:
http://music.paythereckoning.com/
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by johndsamuels
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Now Aidan Crossey is a really nice mandolin player.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by sashiko calico
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I doubt that there's much of a bias against women, I think it's more that the general percentage of mandolin players is heavily weighted on the side of men, for some reason... Maybe it's that the women that are biased against the instrument!
Actually, I quite like the mandolin playing of Marla Fibish in San Francisco.
I'd also second the vote for Luke Plumb. He is one of the most amazing musicians around. And Roger Landes, who is more known for his bouzouki playing, is quite a mandolin player as well.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Reverend
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
celtic string and the mystic gypsy...........
PAUL KELLY..is brilliant...
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Dphil
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Our own Reverend and Little Miss Lonley Hearts can pick and pluck a mean Maughndoleeen!
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Sam Bush
Chris Thille
Dawg Grisman
Butch Baldasari
and Tim O'Brien, but for his singing
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by padre
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Grissman once played a free to the public, paid for by city council show in the small town where I lived. Beautiful sunny day, courthouse lawn, giant killer sound system, people were dancing in the grass and loving it. Right in the middle of a tune about halfway through the show, he stopped the band and said angrily to the crowd " Sit down, shut up and listen. This is not dance music, it's listening music". Many people left, those of us that stayed felt kinda bewildered, muttering sheesh what'd we do Dave we were just dancing and having fun. Not as if we couldn't hear ya. What ya got 10'000 watts blastin at us? It was hard to appreciate his music after his outburst. He hasn't been invited back since. Tim O'Brian has played in the same town quite a few times. Now Tim is an impressive and kindhearted player who shows great appreciation for the crowd. Tim gets invited back regularly. People dance in the aisles at his concerts. He loves his crowd.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
A mandolin player that is in the Roscommon/Longford and Cavan region is Joao Soares from Portugal.
Got some lovely tunes in his repertoire.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by Martin Donohoe
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I recently stumbled on Sam Bartlett playing Mandolin and banjo. Check out his Evil Diane album, not to mention his ramblings on "Stuntology" Really nice music
I have to agree on Luke Plumb and Kevin Macleod too.
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by clavey
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Of course it wasn't a strange question. Some people seem to take perverse pleasure in providing stupid answers. Certainly makes you wonder. Chris Thile is a wonderful mandolin player and there are many YouTube offerings which feature him.
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by Oonagh O
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
As mentioned above, Simon Mayor is a great player, though not really active in the genre we favour on this forum. I like some of Paul Kelly's stuff, and was very impressed by Fiontán Ó Meachair's CD.
Having said that, I almost never listen to this stuff, and as a mandolin player I seek my influences in fiddles, pipes and the like.
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by DaveL35
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
I was just going to mention Marla Fibish but Reverend beat me to it I see! I quite like the playing of Brian Taheny as well - from Sligo, emigrated to Canada.
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by triplet upstairs
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
"Aidan has recently relaunched the Pay The Reckoning site here:
http://music.paythereckoning.com/";
Hey, thanks, johndsamuels
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
For those who have suggested an absence of women among the mandolinists: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19074
There's 78 pages if it's a quiet day at work!
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Miss Lonelyhearts is there too: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showpost.php?p=231427&postcount=4
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Claudine Langille
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/673
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by Kenny
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Especially for Track 1
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4792
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by Kenny
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
If you like Chris Thile then Scottish mandolinist Adam Bulley is worth a look
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by Bren
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/3583
Track 8 - never bettered in Irish music, in my opinion.
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by Kenny
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Have to agree whole-heartedly with Kenny there I have been watching this thread waiting for someone to mention Paul Brady as a mandolinist. Really can't beat that set of tunes for trad mando.
# Posted on February 11th 2010 by Why Bother?
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
If we're not limiting ourselves to ITM players, Mike Marshall is a giant of the instrument.
# Posted on February 12th 2010 by mcswiss
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
"If we're not limiting ourselves to ITM players, Mike Marshall is a giant of the instrument."
My choice, as well.
# Posted on February 12th 2010 by Toppish
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Luke Plumbs CD is the best irish mandolin recording I've heard - by far
# Posted on February 15th 2010 by geoffmc
Re: Which mandolin players do you like?
Hey, you might find a couple more, on my new Mandolin MySpace.
http://www.myspace.com/irishscotsmandolin
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on July 14th 2010 by Ptarmigan