New stylists

[pocketbones]

just so we don't stay forever camped in the past, who is some of the newer players that have gotten your attention? no disrespect to the earlier pioneers, but they ain't going to be around forever. i like them all, from monroe to thiele.

[Payit Forward]

Sierra Hull, Sarah Jarosz, and Josh Pinkham are all terrific.

They are all young, but quite accomplished already.

[mandopete]

Do you mean new or young?

[pocketbones]

Do you mean new or young?

let the term mean whatever it needs to be to you. your opinion is what counts.

[Andrew DeMarco]

ahem... I will merely imply his name...

[sgarrity]

I admit that I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to bluegrass mandolin. It's not that I don't appreciate new and different styles, I just really like bluesy, Monroe-style mandolin pickin'. With that said, a "newer" stylist that has really gotten my attention is Ashby Frank. I've only heard him on the new Mashville Brigade recording but man is he good! They recorded about 15 standard bluegrass songs and instrumentals and all of his breaks were fresh and different without being too far out there.

[farmerjones]

Kenny & Amanda Smith

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

[Chris "Bucket" Thomas]

How about Pete Frostic with Old School Freight Train. He has been credibly noted as fusing various styles together. He & OSFT have played/toured with Grisman. I also believe that he has played with Mike Marshall. Pete is on faculty teaching mandolin at UVA and teaches part time at William & Mary.

[John McGann]

Several players to watch out for now at Berklee:

Jacob Jolliff
Eric Robertson
Dominic Leslie

We have around 20 mandolin principals now, and there are some great voices developing. :mandosmiley:

[sgarrity]

20 mandolin students at Berklee?? WOW!! That's awesome! Just imagine where mandolin music will be in the next 5-10 years.....

[Phillip Tigue]

I just found Anthony Hannigan (hi anthony). I really like his stuff...

[ehOhioGrown]

i mean he's not the fastest or whatever, and i'm partial to him because i love the band he's in, but jeff austin from yonder would be one of my votes. you never know exactly what to expect when you go to a show. i guess i like the way they sometimes push the envelope not always in a way that turns out good, but they aren't afraid to take chances, that's what i love about "jam" bands, is that the fans give them room to try different sounds or songs without worrying about if everything sounds like the album. or not wanting to try a new sound/style after an album sells well.

[pocketbones]

sierra hull gets my vote. she really played some nice mandolin during the IBMA. several times.

[Timbofood]

I have been impressed with ALL the mandolin player that have been with Special Concensus, (Ashby Frank's current gig) Ron Spears, Josh Williams. Greg seems to pick some real talent with all his band, always has.

[Austin Koerner]

I'm really not a big fan of newer bluegrass, but I have to say that Mike Guggino, of the steep canyon rangers reallly impressed me. The whole band is very intertaining.

[mandopete]

Jesse Cobb of the Infamous Stringdusters.

[Pete Martin]

All of us in the NW are excited to see where Jacob Jolliff will go with his music. He's been a head turner up here for a number of years.

[Ronbo]

I really like what Matt Flinner is doing with the mando. As far as more "traditional" bluegrass mandolin, there is a young man from here in the Ozarks region by the name of Eric Koontz. He's a very fine player.

[pjlama]

Jesse Cobb of the Infamous Stringdusters.
A strong second from me!