Your favorite bluegrass mandolin player

[manicmando]

whos your favorite ? what band do they play with ? which album shows them off the best ?

[Any Day Now]

Check out Chris Thile's new album How To Grow a Woman From the Ground. Its not the classic response but it is a great bluegrass album. All recorded live acoustically sitting around the microphones the way it should be.

[doc holiday]

....let's see? #Bluegrass? # #That would be Bill Monroe.
Band? #Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys....Album #"Master of Bluegrass"


http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Is that some kinda trick question http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Doc

[manicmando]

well everybody knows Bill is the man but i should have said favorite of todays players

[pjlama]

SInce we can't say Bill I gotta go with Ricky and Kentucky Thunder Live from Charleston. It's the best modern BG for me so crisp, powerful, absolutely huge.

[evanreilly]

Mike Compton, if there is anyone else other than William Smith Monroe.

[K3NTUCKI8oy]

ROY SMECK!!! lol no it would have to be Mr Bill he's the only one I know
of who could play fire on the mountain at the age of 82 and fast!

[JeffD]

SInce we can't say Bill I gotta go with Ricky and Kentucky Thunder Live from Charleston. It's the best modern BG for me so crisp, powerful, absolutely huge.
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder

Since we can't say Bill

[Mike Bunting]

I guess that I'd have to go for Mike Compton too

[Steve Davis]

Skip Gorman

[LateBloomer]

Dry Branch Fire Squad's Ron Thomason and Brian Aldridge both on mandolin - playing Old Joe Clark (at a live show with me sitting just a few feet in front of them)- knocks my socks off everytime. And I get to hear them later today - yahooo! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Stephanie Reiser]

Boy this is a tough question. I am a die-hard Thile fan, however much of his recordings are not bluegrass. And in his one bluegrass effort there are some tunes I dont care for and that I did not put on my MP-3 player. But he has some really great hard-driving BG tunes on it, too.
I am a big Skaggs fan, and have almost all of his BG CDs.
Lately I have been listening to Track 14 on XM radio, and there are a ton of great BG mando players, that I do not know the names of.
TO answer the question, I'd have to say a tie between Thile and Skaggs. But what about Andy Leftwich...?! Too hard to pin down.

[John Flynn]

I'd have to go with Skip Gorman also.

[fiddler59]

Adam Steffey
Wayne Benson
Jesse Cobb

in no particular order !!
David B

[Tripp Johnson]

Another vote for Mike Compton, with Skip Gorman not too far behind.

Tripp

[Kevin Briggs]

Skaggs. He loves playing traditional stuff, but he can mix it up. His playing on "Shady Grove" on "History of the Future" is awesome.

[bluegrassjack2]

Ronnie McCoury.

[Andrew Reckhart]

I'd probably have to go with Ronnie Mccoury. He plays with power, soul, great bluesieness and feel. He really gets it. He understands that its not all about flash and playing a million notes a measure. But he can burn it up with the best of them too.

[Enigmatic Recluse]

Player: Jeff Austin
Band: Yonder Mountain String Band
Album: Various Mountain Tracks live discs

[pettyman]

Ronnie McCoury or Ricky Skaggs

Every time I hear Ronnie I'm blown away!

[Ken Berner]

There are so many and most of them already mentioned, but I just can't overlook Marty Stewart.

[Don Christy]

I'd have to go with Skip Gorman also.
OK, I don't have any Skip Gorman. Which CDs would you recommend of his overall and specifically for bluegass mandolin?
Thanks
Don

[Dan Cole]

Butch Waller. Check out "Golden Gate Promenade" from iTunes. You won't be disappointed.

[Rick Schmidlin]

Bill for history

Ronnie,Mike and Roland for different reason's

Reischman just because.

[Rick Crenshaw]

Dang, that's tough. #There's so many. #I guess for bluegrass it would have to be Alan Bibey, Mike Compton, Ronnie McCoury, Adam Steffy, Wayne Benson, Hershell Sizemore, and Ricky Skaggs. #Close to that order but it would depend on the day. #There are so many who aren't 'out front' who are so good. #Dave Harvey, Brian Aldridge, Ron Thomason, scores of others I just can't think of right now.

Though not really, strictly bluegrass, among my very top favorites are: #John Reischman, Emory Lester, Butch Baldasarri, and J.P. Cormier (who can play ANYTHING with strings!) #Those guys can kick it - with TONE!

I'm headed to Kaufman Kamp next week. #I might be writing more about Don Stiernberg, John Moore, and Radim Zenkl very soon.

[John Flynn]

OK, I don't have any Skip Gorman. Which CDs would you recommend of his overall and specifically for bluegass mandolin?

Be prepared, Gorman is not in the "modern bluegrass" mold. Instead, he seems to follow along with Monroe's very early work, as opposed to his later work. Specificially for bluegrass mandolin, I would recommend "The Old Style Mandolin, Vol 2 - Monroesque." Volume 1 is excellent also, but it is more "pre-bluegrass." His "Mandolin in the Cow Camp" is a triumph that I recommend every mandolin player own, but it is more old-time than bluegrass.

I just noticed on his site that he has a bluegrass CD out called "Late Night Feast." I am not familiar with it, but I'm going to order it!

[Steve G]

Second favorite to Monroe? Sam Bush, no question.

[jim_n_virginia]

1. Bill Monroe
2. Herschel Sizemore
3. Alan Bibey
4. Johnny Staats
5. Mike Compton

SHOOT THERE'S TOOOO MANY JUST TO PICK ONE!

[jim_n_virginia]

1. Bill Monroe
2. Herschel Sizemore
3. Alan Bibey
4. Johnny Staats
5. Mike Compton

SHOOT THERE'S TOOOO MANY JUST TO PICK ONE! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Don Christy]

Specificially for bluegrass mandolin, I would recommend "The Old Style Mandolin, Vol 2 - Monroesque." Volume 1 is excellent also, but it is more "pre-bluegrass." His "Mandolin in the Cow Camp" is a triumph that I recommend every mandolin player own, but it is more old-time than bluegrass.

I just noticed on his site that he has a bluegrass CD out called "Late Night Feast." I am not familiar with it, but I'm going to order it!
Thanks JOhn,
I went ahead and ordered both Old Style volumes and the late night feast.
Don

[Domhnall]

I have to agree that Chris Thile is awesome. But I feel I have to support a fellow Canadian, Andrew Collins of The Creeking Tree String Quartet. A great group, but his solo album, Little Widgets, really has his best stuff on it.

[mandopete]

This changes daily...

Today's Choice - Jesse Brock.

[Truckadero]

Ronnie McCoury for me. Saw Del and the boyz at Snowmass a couple of days ago. Ronnie is a class act with incredible feel and power in his playing. Thile is a master for sure...though IMO, what he is doing these days, I wouldn't call Bluegrass.

[Dan Cole]

Funny no one has said the Dawg. He still can cut an awesome Monroe lick.

[cooper4205]

of guys still around today, I like Ronnie McCoury and Wake Frankfield for good ol' hardcore bluegrass (and Dawg too, he plays straight up bluegrass as good as any).

for the more progressive stuff besides Same, i really like Drew Emmitt's playing with the Drew Emmitt Band (the Leftover stuff is good, too). i always wonder why you don't hear more about him on here, his last album was excellent.

[Skin it Back]

Thile, Dawg and Marshal. I could spend the rest of my life just listening to those three.

[melodicdreams]

Skaggs. He loves playing traditional stuff, but he can mix it up. His playing on "Shady Grove" on "History of the Future" is awesome.
I could be wrong, but wasn't the mandolin break on this track played by Andy Leftwich (Skaggs' fiddle player)? Andy has a first rate instrumental bluegrass out too, called "Ride." You might dig it.

[B. T. Walker]

Daughter: Daddy, can I listen to that bluegrass CD?
Me: Sure, babe. Which one?
D: You know the one with that song where they sing "Nothing Special"?
ME: Yep.

So right now, it's Ronnie McCoury. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Bryan Monarch]

Another vote for Chris Thile, always been a fan, always will be.

[Kevin Briggs]

Hey, cool. I'm not sure if that's Skaggs or Leftwich, but whoever it is plays sweet.,

[doc holiday]

There sure are a lot of great mandolin players out there at the moment. #Besides the already mentioned greats, bluegrass and non-bluegrass alike....I am listening a lot lately to a couple of #really great singers who are real tasteful on the mandolin: #Don Rigsby, and Shawn Lane (Blue Highway)

[mandolinplayingpreacher]

Huh!
I did not see that anyone mentioned the Reno Boys (Ronnie & Dale) or Doyle Lawson.

[AlanN]

Huh!
I did not see that anyone mentioned the Reno Boys (Ronnie & Dale) or Doyle Lawson.
Dale is the man.

[Wheel Man]

What about good ol Sam Bush and Hoss. #Although he strays from the Bluegrass gendre at times, he is a great picker. Love the CD he did with the Dawg, "Hold on we're strummin'": http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mandopete]

Today it's Hide Kawatsure.

[Timbofood]

The monster is released!
Too many fantastic pickers to pick one but, Gee, nobody seems to think about Bill Bolick.
Jesse McReynolds, Doyle, Roland White, Jimmy Gaudreau, Here's a reach...Levon Helm.
Apologies to the great numbers who we will all realize after the thread is 500 pages long.

[seththedude]

My favorite current bluegrass pickers are Ronnie McCoury and Mike Compton.

[Mandodan12]

anything and everything with Chris thile works for me...i listen to nickel creek because hes in it and his solo albums and collaborations with mike marshall are all amazing mandolin feats. I'd reccomend the thile marshall albums into the caldron and live: duets. they are both just a ton of great songs with two mandolins and nothing else. it is my favorite music collection.
i am also a big fan of sam bush...especially live.

[Mattg]

Sam Bush. Roland White. Shawn Lane

[Perry]

I'll throw Sammy into the ring; he plays some mighty fine bluegrass...after all he's the "mutha" of bluegrass.


OK, I don't have any Skip Gorman. Which CDs would you recommend of his overall and specifically for bluegass mandolin?

Check out his "Old Style Mandolin" two volume set. He ships his CDs out fast. Here is his "store" (http://www.skipgorman.com/sg_order.cfm)

[manicmando]

nobody like Adam Steffy? hes not my favorite but he is pretty good

[Old Red]

I've been a huge fan of the playing of David Davis (leader of the Warrior River Boys) since I first saw him live at a festival in 1991. #And boy can he sing! #As a bonus, he's a really nice guy. #Hard to beat that combination.

Andy

[Bing Cullen]

Well Adam Steffey IS my favourite player. But I thought I said this last week...maybe there is a similar thread somewhere else. You have to admit, he is instantly recognizable after just a few notes in both tone and style. Reischman too, but not always bluegrass...tends to play some elevator music too.

[Le7beda]

Frank Wakefield & Roland White.

[Timbofood]

John Duffey! In his "Special" way

[El Greco]

I'd have to agree with most. Here's my top-five fav mando playas list (not necessarily in order of preference):

1. Mr. Monroe
2. Mr. Bush
3. Mr. Compton
4. Mr. David "Dawg" Grisman
5. Mr. Baldassari

I also like F. Wakefield and C. Thiele but I guess the players on the list find their way in my CD/MP3 player most often.

[powercat]

Ricky Skaggs' version of Walls of Time

Audra Franz of The Franz Family. She is a darn good player with a great voice.

[rhfeiner]

1. Reischman - best tone
2. McCoury - pure bluegrass
3. Mike Marshall - musicianship
4. Andy Statman (in the bebop/klezmergrass category)

[mandopete]

Klezmergrass?

[earthsave]

Mike Compton

[Bill James]

I heard a cut from the Stringdusters on the radio this weekend, some great stuff. I forgot the mandolin players name but if I closed my eyes he sounded a lot like Thile. Not sure why I had to close my eyes being that I was listening to the radio... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif #

Today's favorites are Reischman and Bush, subject to change often.

[DryBones]

Top 5 after Bill in no particular order because it changes daily: Adam Steffey, Doyle Lawson,Ricky Skaggs,Mike Compton,Butch Baldassari,David Davis,and Ronnie McCoury. OK that was 7 but heck, it's hard to nail it down to 5. I could easily add another 5 without blinking. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[red7flag]

Bill just an icon and a force. Makes every note count.
Mike Compton can ratchet it up and make you think it is Bill, then can play an old river song. Great guy.
Sam Bush Can really get a live situation to kick like no other.
Dale Reno Can just bring it, don't really care for the Hayseed Dixie stuff however.
Jessie McReynolds Live and upclose is simply amazing.

[chaisson21]

The break on 'Shady Grove' by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky thunder is played by Andy Leftwich. He's definitely up there right now as one of my favorite players...I love his break on 'Brand New Strings' and his work on Keith Sewell's 'Love is a Journey' is first-rate too. Gotta love Skaggs too, with Ronnie McCoury close behind.

But one of my all-time favorites is Tim O'Brien. I'm surprised no one has mentioned him yet...he might not be the fastest in the world but I love his sound!

[El Greco]

The break on 'Shady Grove' by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky thunder is played by Andy Leftwich. #He's definitely up there right now as one of my favorite players...I love his break on 'Brand New Strings' and his work on Keith Sewell's 'Love is a Journey' is first-rate too. #Gotta love Skaggs too, with Ronnie McCoury close behind.

But one of my all-time favorites is Tim O'Brien. #I'm surprised no one has mentioned him yet...he might not be the fastest in the world but I love his sound!
That's true. Coupled by his voice, Tim's work is a tour de force.

[kyblue]

Tim's my favorite. He has the whole package - picking, singing, and writing. It's hard to compete with that.

Paula

[John Gardinsky]

Hard to believe no one has mentioned David McLaughlin yet, although I am not sure he still picks the mandolin these days. Ronnie McCoury's notesmithing is always stellar. Mr.Compton for pure grit. One may think there is a Monroe thing going on here. John

[Steve Cantrell]

Compton is the man.

[Bradley]

Lets see I will list my top 5 and then try to put them in order...

Ricky Skaggs-Love his stuff of the last 10 years, but also
the 70's and early 80's bluegrass stuff too.

Doyle Lawson-How can you not like DL..Mr Smooth he is.

Adam Steffey-without a doubt the most influential player of the last 10-12 years.

Alan Bibey- what a great player with his very noticable style.

Mike Compton- Really appreciate his playing as well as his
love for the history of Bgrass and old time music.



And some people that aren't on the noticable player list.

David Harvey- he can still mix it up with anybody on the planet

Ben Rochester- Great multi-instrumentalist that plays with his family group "The Rochesters"...thats the way that gospel should be done. you can definitely hear Stefeys influence in his playing.

[Greg H.]

Ok, I've held off on this long enough,

1. Bush - When he plays bluegrass I don't think anyone puts the phrasing and feeling better.

2. Dawg

3. Reischman

4. O'Brien

5. McCoury

On any given day Compton would easily fit in there too, as would Bibey, Benson, and Steffey. Now if we weren't talking about bluegrass mandolinists Thile and Marshall would be up at the top of the list. Oh, and the reason big Bill isn't in there is the instructions said recent mandolinists (presumably still alive).

[fiddler59]

I heard a cut from the Stringdusters on the radio this weekend, some great stuff. I forgot the mandolin players name but if I closed my eyes he sounded a lot like Thile. Not sure why I had to close my eyes being that I was listening to the radio... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Today's favorites are Reischman and Bush, subject to change often.
The mandolin player for the Stringdusters is Jesse Cobb....Great player no doubt !!

David B

[Skip Kelley]

Bill Monroe, Larry Rice, Hershel Sizemore, Butch Baldassari, Skip Gorman, Mike Compton, David Davis, Adam Steffey, just to name a few!!

[hepcat mando]

Chris Thile
Sam Bush
Jesse Cobb
Larry Rice

Those would be my favorites but the more time I spend listening to mando players the more I'm amazed at how many great players are out there.
I would have to say I really dig the way Joe Walsh plays as well.

[earthsave]

The Stringdusters Mando player is Jesse Cobb Who has "served a stint with Grand Ole Opry member Mike Snider, performed with Jim Lauderdale, Melonie Cannon, the Fox Family, Valerie Smith and Lee Ann Womack."

That's a very loaded band.

[testore]

I'm glag Skip chimed in with Hershel Sizemore. What a great player. You know Peter Rowan does some very tasteful things too. I guess my favorite has to be D.G with Monroe running neck and neck

[biscuit]

Alan Bibey http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif GRASSTOWNE http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Santiago]

Mr. Skaggs.