Search for the greatest Mandolinist Ever

[Baron Collins-Hill]

To refrase that, i would say:

who are some of the most talented mandolinists out there or who have been out there?

my personal choices:

chris thile
Adam steffy
David Grisman
Sam Bush
jacob de bandolim

[Eugene]

I think the very concept of a single greatest ever of anything simply is not plausible. The art of mandolin is so incredibly diverse, a master of one facet may not have any facility whatsoever for another; e.g., as skilled as Thile is, I have never heard him make any effort at a formal classical duo style...or the fluid slur- and bend-rich style of Srinivas. Of course, this isn't to say Thile is not good, only to emphasize that mandolinning is too diverse to allow for the concept of "best" to be contained by a single human being.

Personally, I beleive most mandolinning of today can be traced to some degree to the efforts of Raffaele Calace (1863-1934). The instrument simply was not popular when Calace came to it. He mastered luthiery, composition, and performance, pioneering advanced techniques that are now staples of classical style, as well as writing and touring extensively to bring mandolin to the world. His compositions are still standard in the clasical repertoire and his luthiery shop is still being operated by his descendants. Still, I can't call him the greatest ever...but he certainly qualifies as a heroic figure.

[JiminRussia]

I agree completely with Eugene. To say any one person is "The Greatest" is too limiting. Dave Apollon was a great mandolinist, and in many peoples oppinion was the best that ever was or ever will be, but that would have to be limited to his style and the types of music that he played.

[odeman]

I've seen a LOT of great mandolinists and am a HUGE fan of at least a dozen, but Evan Marshall really blew me away last year at the Mando-Fest in Lawrence, KS. I don't see how anybody can get better than that. He even reminded me of the late, great Dave Apollon at times.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

i see what you mean, so ive decided to refrase the question.

who are some of your favorite mandolinists?

[John Flynn]

who are some of your favorite mandolinists?
Norman Blake
Curtis Buckhannon
Clyde Curley

Tim O'brien

[Bradley]

My boys say that I am the best...so theres your answer http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

In all reality,for my taste, heres my top 5

1.Steffey
2.McCoury
3.Skaggs
4.Lawson
5.Compton

And, I will mention 2 that are not in the "Who's Who" of the mandolin world, but are as good or better that the guys listed above.

1.David Harvey
2.Ronald Inscore

[sandcastlefaith]

My top 10 favorites:

1. Chris Thile
2. Evan Marshall
3. Mike Marshall
4. Carlo Aonzo
5. Dave Peters
6. John Reischman
7. Anthony Hannigan
8. David Grisman
9. Josh Pinkham
10. Don Steirnberg

[markdavenport]

how about Jethro Burns & Dave Apollon?

[bluegrassjack2]

McCoury and Skaggs by far for bluegrass

[Gary S]

My favorites are
Apollon
Burns
Monroe
Statman

[flatthead]

Bill Monroe

[jasona]

O'Brien, Lester, Bush, Thile, Collins. In no particular order.

[Scotti Adams]

..you cant have a greatest mando player ever as suggested in you question because "ever" is not over with yet and I dont expect it to be anytime soon http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif AS far as whos the best up to this point..I think that is an inane question...for they all have brought so much to the table..if it werent for one there wouldnt be the other....

[Andrew Reckhart]

I used to think that there was such a thing as "the best". As I mature as a musician I realize more and more that "best" is only an opinion. I think that we are all the "best" because even though we may not have the technical prowess of Chris Thile or the tone of Adam Steffey, we still get it out of the case and make music on it. I played music with about 15 different mandolin players of varying skill levels over the weekend. I learned something new or at least heard something new out of all of them. I try to take that little bit with me and work on it. Then I try to "make it mine' and incorporate it into my little "bag of tricks". I think we'll all be better off when we can stop competing and learn to enjoy it all.

[Scotti Adams]

BINGO!! Thanks Andrew

[Bob A]

I'm compelled to mention the talented multi-instrumentalist Ry Cooder. It was hearing him play the mandolin that forced me to sell most of my toys and buy an F4 thirty years ago.

The rest is history.

[jim_n_virginia]

Thile
Staats
Grisman
Skaggs
Bush

But there is no "best" because someone who is better comes along everyday.

[rboothie]

What about Jesse McReynolds whose picking styles alone have changed the sound and role of mandolins in bands. By the way, quick plug here...Jesse and The Virginians will be at THE ROSE in Medina, Ohio on Sept. 4. www.therosetheater.com

[Karen Kay]

Jeff Midkiff, Emory Lester, Dave Peters

[ira]

what about frank wakefield as one of the greats?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

and movin up the ranks- ronnie mccoury.

i also love drew emmit from l.o.s. can play any type of music and play it well.

i also think andy statman is pretty happening.

too hard to pick any one great so many mentioned here. depends on the music you're listening to.

[Mandoe]

IMHO, the great style masters/innovators of the mandolin are, in no specific order:
1) Monroe
2) Osborne
3) McReynolds
4) Appollon
5) Burns
6) Grisman
7) Bush
8) Thile

[Baron Collins-Hill]

anyone ever listen to any jacob de bandolim?

hes not flashy, but hes a vey accomplished mandolinist

[straight-a]

My favorites in no particular order:

Tim O'Brien
David Grisman
Jethro Burns
Johnny Staats

[Mando4Life]

I agree with Andrew R. and Scotti....there are just too many dang good mandolin players out there....from the big names to local guys in my area.

Players in the current favorite position (which changes weekly..lol) are Ron Inscore, Wake Frankfield, and Roland White (found an old Scotty Stoneman/Kentucky Colonels CD..it's great).

[Bobby Brite]

Wayne Benson Adam Steffey and Dan Tyminski for bluegrass.
Chris Thile and Mike Marshall all around.

[mandroid]

I gotta mention Howard Armstrong and Johnny Young, different styles , fine players.
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[Blueglass]

My favorites.
I can't answer this but I can tell who inspired me to play.
Jimmy Page
and that guy from Blind Melon
also whoever play mandolin for Rod Stwert? who was it? was it Ron Wood?

I knowo these guys maybe are not the greatest players ever but just think about how many rock and roll fans like my self they introduced the mandolin to.

I'll bet I'm no the only mandolin plicker around who found
"that bill monroe mandolin guy" by trying to find out what the neck Jimmy Page was playing -- I remember being young and asking
ok what's a mandolin?

[elenbrandt]

Jeez...go away for a few days and come back to this thing again...
Will we ever stop finding the need to rank genius talent on a one to one hundred scale?

Suffice it to say, the fact that music quantifies a piece of my soul doesn't require that I come up with a mathematical formula as to how it does so.

Anyone who plays in instrument well enough to make our little neurons dance should be included in the list -- and that list would be too damn long..... #
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