Recommended mp3's?

[techfiddle]

Hi: Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place. I did a search on Amazon in the MP3 section, under "mandolin" and the following came up:

http://www.amazon.com/s....x=0&y=0 (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=mandolin&x=0&y=0)

Can anyone recommend some good recordings? Please nothing classical; I am sick to death of classical music.

My taste is more like modern country rock, if that's the correct way of putting it?

Thanks!

[JEStanek]

Hmmm. Modern Country Rock. It's not really the genre of my choice but consider something off the Ricky Skaggs Bruce Hornsby collection from their CD Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby. An all girl band, Uncle Earl is a favorite of mine. They're kinda traditional string band with a modern panache. Maybe up your alley would be songs off of Waterloo, Tennessee or She Waits for Night. KC Groves plays mandolin on their CDs. Their song Streak of Fat Streak of Lean is getting CMT airtime and youtube here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vebsaeFAiQ) Where else will you have stringband music and John Paul Jones from Led Zepelin in ladies shoes? Let us know about some of the samples you heard that you liked and we'll better be able to suggest bands/cds/mp3s

Jamie

Jamie

[Steve Cantrell]

Chatham County line is another REALLY good band, which would seem to fall into that category. I recommend their "Route 23" and "Speed of the Whippoorwill" discs. Great stuff.

[mando.player]

I hear this place (http://www.mandolincafe.com/mp3/) has a wide selection of MP3s to download.

[techfiddle]

I hear this place (http://www.mandolincafe.com/mp3/) has a wide selection of MP3s to download.
oh, that's VERY nice, thank you!

I'm totally new at this and so excited. Who, in your view, is generally thought to be the best players? who are the most famous players, etc?

[JEStanek]

Stating who we think is best often degerates into ugliness...

Players I like (in no particular order of greatness and just my tastes)

Chris Thile of Nickel Creek and solo - Newgrass
Dan Zanes - folk / kids music
Ricky Skaggs - Bluegrass
Mike Marshall - What can't he do?
Frank Wakefield - Bleugrass
Bill Monore - The Grand Pappy of Bluegrass
Dan Biemborn - good Irish stuff
Mike Seeger - Folk
Hamilton De Holanda - Brazillian Choro music
Sam Bush - Blue/Newgrass
Tim O'Brien - Folk/Irish/Trad stuff

I'm leaving out many other great players.

A good CD to start with would be Tone Poets from accoustic disc. This is a good sampling of manolin (and guitar) luminaries playing their stuff in one place.

Jamie

[Alex Fields]

I would add Evan Marshall, Radim Zenkl, and Ashley Broder to Jamie's list, probably some others.

It is very sad, though, that you're sick of classical music, and in my experience when people say that it usually turns out they've only listened to bland recordings of excerpts from famous pieces...I am not sure how one can ever tire of classical music more generally when there is such an astounding variety even in just the 20th century alone. I have listened to nothing but classical music and old time fiddling/singing for months now and have not even listened to any one disc twice, much less enough to get tired of anything.

[mandroid]

Maybe I'm Dating myself ['cause no-one else wants to Date me?]
The 60's country Rock stuff,( L.A. based , I realize) , flying burrito brothers , and the Byrds did some nice recordings.

the sound of Country Rock begs the question , Which Country did you have in mind?
high summer brings out the Scandinavians around here.

[JHo]

On the jazzier side of things, Matt Flinner and of course Don Stiernberg are both very high on my list. I find both to be tremendously talented and tasteful players. Then to move back a generation, there's Jethro Burns and Tiny Moore, also terrific.

[lespaul_79]

Uhhhh there's another guy out there that goes by the nickname.... Dawg!!!!!
Techfiddle, that's David Grisman. Go to www.dawgnet.com for a free amazing mp3 everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also I'll also recommmend the MP3's from the Cafe. There is greattttt stuff here. The version of Whiskey Before Breakfast by Joe Walsh is awesssssommmeeee.

Tons of other great stuff. Actually it reminds me that I need to listen to them again....

Dont know if this is Country Rock, but hey... good mando is ... good mando.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Jim MacDaniel]

Bonepony is a mando-centric band with a definite alt-country/americana/country rock vibe, and not one but two members of their original line-up played mandolin on their CD's. I am a big fan, and all but their oldest CD is available for download at emusic.com (link to Bonepony's emusic catalog (http://www.emusic.com/artist/Bonepony-MP3-Download/11573805.html))

Also, Austin Texas' interesting and quirky band The Gourds (http://www.emusic.com/artist/The-Gourds-MP3-Download/11563229.html) have a lot of mandolin content in their music.

[Jim MacDaniel]

...who are the most famous players, etc?
BTW, once you step out of our little bubble here, "famous" and "mandolin player" are mutually exclusive terms. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[kvk]

You might want to search youtube also. You'll see mere mortals of all abilities.

I actually learned one tune, St. Anne's Reel, by listening to about 17 different renditions by people on youtube. Some had parts way above my ability but piecing together bits I was able to get the whole tune down. It took me a few hours ofvertwo sessions but was very rewarding.

[John Hill]

...who are the most famous players, etc?
BTW, once you step out of our little bubble here, "famous" and "mandolin player" are mutually exclusive terms. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

That's funny.

Mandolin: The sure path to fame & fortune.

[DryBones]

don't forget Butch Baldassari. Try his Bach,Beatles and Bluegrass cd if you want a variety of great mando!

BTW, Jamie that head in a field of grass is just as freaky as the goofy-toofy pic! You crack me up! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[JEStanek]

You guys are tough. That's still my son, this time with no goofy teeth. He's full on standing in a field of winter wheat about 4 feet in from the edge of the crop with the French Creek watershed valley behind him.

He's a carbon copy of what I looked like at 5.5 years old.

For Connie (and me) based on Bill Graham's new article on Tim O'Brien (http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_00879.shtml) I'll be needing a copy of Chameleon.

Jamie

[Ken Olmstead]

South Austin Jug Band should fit the bill of "modern country rock!" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Col. Suggs]

Lots of great suggestions here already (South Austin Jug Band, Bonepony, Uncle Earl, Chatham County Line, Tim O'Brien, etc.) #You might also have a listen to the Steeldrivers. #And if you want something that leans more towards rock than country, Flogging Molly plays Celtic punk with some mando.

Sean Busick