Who is "Mandolin Man"?

[celtic_knut]

I found an interesting 2-song EP on emusic.com, entitled Oasis, by someone calling himself "Mandolin Man". It is basically Eastern European-infused World Beat fronted by an acoustic mandolin #(link to emusic samples (http://www.emusic.com/album/10879/10879002.html)). Is anyone familiar with this guy, and if so, is he for real, or some sort of tongue-in-cheek Esteban-esque character? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[John Flynn]

You probably caught that his real name is Bruno Cheli, although that is not much help. His site says that "(He)is to mandolin what Clapton & Santana are to guitar." Wow, I guess that leaves Grisman, Bush and Compton out in the dustbin! Also, I would think that the Clapton/Santana of the mandolin would be playing something more upscale than a Fender. Also, I thought his playing on the video was pretty technically unsophisticed and repetitive, not really Clapton/Santana-like in any way I can think of.

It is uncanny how much he looks like an older version of Estaban, though. I wonder if he will come out with "A solid wood mandolin that can be played both acoustically and electrically, complete with case and amp for only three easy payments of $69.95. But wait, there's more! If you order now..."

[ShaneJ]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[John Hill]

He's not Esteban, BUT he did stay at a Holiday Inn last night and lowered his car insurance by switching to GEICO.

[mrmando]

Ouch! He needs to tune that thing!

[Jim Yates]

There's an interesting artical on Esteban in Guitar World Acoustic magazine. It's not worth buying the mag for that artical, but if you were gonna buy it anyhow...
I wonder why he wears the Zorro outfit.

[Jim MacDaniel]

...I wonder why he wears the Zorro outfit.
I wonder why someone named Esteban has a speaking voice like Johnny Cash.

[mrmando]

Also, I would think that the Clapton/Santana of the mandolin would be playing something more upscale than a Fender.
But Clapton DOES play a Fender. Ah, that's the connection! Santana plays a PRS but he's an overrated guitarist anyway.

[John Flynn]

But Clapton DOES play a Fender.
Interesting point. I never thought of that. My guess is that if Clapton decided to take up the mandolin, however, it would not be a Fender!

[mrmando]

Clapton might play one of those Mandocaster reissues from the Fender Custom Shop. What were they, $10K?

But he probably wouldn't go near an FM-52E, and I can't say I blame him.

[clem]

FYI, Clapton sold his '57 blond Mandocaster (with anodized guard) at the Crossroads Auction last year. I think it brought over $6,000. I saw it at the preview in L.A....very nice.

[clem]

I just checked, the Mandocaster went for $11,950. Guess it was VERY nice. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[journeybear]

Mandolin Man assumes various guises ...

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This is the song that started it all - Oasis. Yes, it is repetitive - that may be part of what he is going for (hypnotic, trance -inducing) - but I give him some credit for being bold and pushing the higher notes. Hang in till the end for the astonishing visual effects. The reviewer is definitely given over to hype. Still, it's kind of fun. And as seen in the next video, the Oasis craze is alive and well, at least in Dublin just this past weekend:

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Then there's this - Marvin Etzioni, formerly of Lone Justice. It's hard to see him in the shadows there, and at first when he quoted "Voodoo Chile" I thought "Clapton, Santana, now Hendrix" - then I realized it was a different "Mandolin Man." He has an album out by that name.

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Here, a pint-size superhero demonstrates what may happen if you mess with Mandolin Man:

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Finally, this nervy fellow may be the one to put all others to shame. Someday. Meanwhile, he clearly demonstrates he has none. At least he doesn't waste much time, gets right to it.

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[Rob Gerety]

So, I ask, where would we all be without a Professional Dreamer in our midst?

[journeybear]

Well, I surfed to this video via some circuitous route, found myself staring at it once or twice before I was able to move again, and then decided to see if it or he had been discussed before starting a thread. I thought that was kind of smart. I found this had indeed come up before, and decided to continue the discussion with all its pertinent observations rather than start all over. In other words, I decided one big pile of garbage was better than two little piles (thanks and sorry, Arlo). ;)

BTW, I'm a bit surprised that after all this time no one has tumbled to my byline being an excerpt from Don Williams' “Love Is On A Roll” - "I'm a songwriter, a professional dreamer." I've always liked that, and his music. And where is The Gentle Giant now? Living on Tulsa Time, I reckon ...