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Thread: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

  1. #1

    Default Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Chris Thile is my favorite mandolin player and I like his cover of 2+2=5. I am rather new to this community so that is subject to change, however.

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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Too many mandolin players & far too many tunes between them to allow for any meaningful answers. We all have our favourites - until we hear the ''next one'' !!,
    Ivan
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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    I'm the type of player that loves way too many styles of players, the ones that stand out to me play old Gibson's because that's the tone/voice of a mandolin that I love! Players like David Grisman, John Duffey, Gene Johnson, Dave Appollon, Big Mon, Chris Thile-when Loar playing not the Dude!, Tony Williamson, Pickers like that!, I'm just a fan of the 20's-30's Gibson's even the Old shortnecks like 7's,10's,12's even some of the old A models, sure some newish mandolins are great also but I guess I'm a Gibson Nut! I'm not knocking on Duffs, Gils, Montes, Paganoni's etc...they are wonderful also but the old stuff gets my heart a pumping, its just the things from a different time, awesome little pieces of history.

  6. #4

    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ivan Kelsall View Post
    Too many mandolin players & far too many tunes between them to allow for any meaningful answers. We all have our favourites - until we hear the ''next one'' !!,
    Ivan
    I suppose you're right haha.

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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Agree with Ivan. Usually my favorite is the last good one I just heard. But
    Grisman on Watson's Blues if I had to pick

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    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Although I love hearing all sorts of mandolin players,Chris Thile is my favorite (so far). Apart from his staggering technical skill,the range of different music that he plays is what really attracts me.He does anything from Bach to Bluegrass and beyond to his own compositions. I've even heard him play brief snippets of heavy metal tunes.On top of that, I enjoy his singing too.
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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Impossible for me to say. Ralph Tuttila is my favorite player. But he's also the one that got me into playing mandolin this time around. My other favorites are also all locals to the Twin Cities, Peter Ostroushko, Bob Douglas, Dick Kimmel, and the late Bill Hinkley. Oh, and Chirps Smith from IL is also one of my favorite mandolin (and fiddle) players.

    No way I could ever pick one tune. Right now, it's Ellin poikka from Finn Hall (featuring Ralph).

    And while I like listening to all the big names that everyone has mentioned (and will be mentioning), these are the folks I go back to time and time again to grab inspiration. Not just with mandolin playing, but music in general.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Ivan did get it right. Just pick a name out the hat and that's my favorite..................at the moment.

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    Mando-Afflicted lflngpicker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Currently: Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange on "That Wrecking Ball." All time: Ricky Skaggs...
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    Eternal Beginner Seamus B's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Growing up in an Irish home I was attracted to the playing of Derek Warfield of The Wolfe Tones, and of course Barney McKenna and John Sheehan of The Dubliners. Then later on, Terry Woods of The Pogues, and Chris Leslie of Fairport Convention.

    Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Marla Fibish, especially The Morning Star album with Jimmy Crowley. And also, our very own maestro-teacher Baron Collins-Hill in his Velocipede guise (especially Hunt the Squirrel (2015)). Both are wonderful players and we are blessed that they are happy and willing to teach us!
    Eastman MD305 - set-up by Simon Mayor.

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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Whenever I think mandolin, I think Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys. If I had to pick one song, it would be 'Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet'. He did the song live, in the studio - played an awesome mandolin counter-melody, while singing harmony at the same time . . . no studio tricks, no overdubs. Just plain, WOW!

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  18. #12

    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    For sure one cannot pick out one mandolinist on one song for all time.

    This week I will take David Grisman on "Dawgalypso".

    Quite a few weeks ago (try 1979), it was Sam Bush on slide mandolin on "Lonesome and a Long Way from Home".

    Last week it was Greg Schochet on "Swing Gitane".
    "Those who know don't have the words to tell, and the ones with the words don't know so well." - Bruce Cockburn

  19. #13

    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Quote Originally Posted by Teak View Post
    This week I will take David Grisman on "Dawgalypso".
    And when I think of David Grisman, I think of Jethro Burns' Lady be Good.

    Thile's ok, but it's Mike Compton's time, in the CD player right now.

    I'll soon dig out the Pizza Tapes again. It's never far away.

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    Registered User KGreene's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    I’d have to go with John Maberry “today” (Reno Tradition)... Nothing spectacular, just clean with a subtle fluency ..... he’ no slouch with guitar either.

  21. #15

    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Joe K. Walsh - I Shall Be Released...
    No wait.... John Reischman - A Prairie Jewel....
    Whoops, I mean David Grisman - wait, I have to pick one song????
    Actually it's Joe Walsh. Definitely Joe Walsh.
    Wait, maybe John Reischman.
    David JoJo Grisalshman. My favorite mandolinist is David JoJo Grisalshman. My favorite song of his is the last one I listened to.
    "Well, I don't know much about bands but I do know you can't make a living selling big trombones, no sir. Mandolin picks, perhaps..."

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    Registered User T.D.Nydn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    This is very difficult,I grew up with Burns,Monroe,Statman and Grisman, not my favorite,but Evan Marshall playing William Tell Overture just blows me away every time I hear it,,might be the best thing I ever heard on the mandolin,I really enjoy Chris Henry playing West Dakota Rose...

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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    At the moment

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    Registered User Miltown's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    "Back and Forth" by Andy Statman, off his Andy's Ramble album. But like others have said, if you check back with me tomorrow it will likely be a different song (though probably still one by Andy Statman).

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    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    It’s a tie.
    Jethro (w/ Homer) “Don’t Let the Stars get in your Eyes” from Live in the Country Club,
    & Giovanni Vicari “Musetta’s Waltz” by Puccini.
    Joe B

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    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Lots of famous people mentioned..

    Of those who make it all the way out here,

    Managed to get Frank Wakefield to come out here, due to a conversation started via this site..


    Liked Brian Oberlin , ans Evan Marshall , separately and as a duo.

    & long time local . now Portland Oregon based Peter 'Spud' Siegel...

    Not a friend, he really has nothing but a rare word in reply when I say hello at his gigs,

    coming back out to the coast.

    Goonieville..


    ..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

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    Registered User THart's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Platt View Post
    Impossible for me to say. Ralph Tuttila is my favorite player. But he's also the one that got me into playing mandolin this time around. My other favorites are also all locals to the Twin Cities, Peter Ostroushko, Bob Douglas, Dick Kimmel, and the late Bill Hinkley. Oh, and Chirps Smith from IL is also one of my favorite mandolin (and fiddle) players.
    Gotta add Richard Kriehn to that list. The more I hear him the more impressed I become. There is a long, long line of great players out there. Oddly enough (maybe) thinking back probably the first mandolin player that really made an impression on me in the '70's was Ry Cooder. Love his blues mando!

  29. #22

    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Probably Ricky Skaggs for me. I like the song Missing Vassar quite a lot.

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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Chris Thile’s performance on Douglas Fir


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    Registered User Lowlands Blue's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    Difficult to pick one song or player, but I'll go with something I like, because not only is the song awesome, but its a personal favorite.

    Cattle in the Cane by Sam Bush on the Bluegrass Extravaganza compilation album. One of the first more difficult songs I learned to play, and until this day a challenge for me.

  33. #25
    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
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    Default Re: Who is your favorite Mandolin Player? And which song?

    My favorite changes depending what I'm listening to or trying to learn at the time. But I've found the below folks are the ones I would go out of my way (i.e. travel) to see (in no order)

    + Chris Thile - both inspiring and humbling to listen to him play. While he's moved far away from straight bluegrass, even his first album (Leading Off) is amazing (humbling that a ~12 year old Thile would crush me in a mandolin playing contest today haha)

    + Joe K Walsh - Some really interesting voicing and chord choices on his songs. I especially like "Never More Will Roam"

    + Mike Marhsall - He was technically my first mandolin teacher (showed me a few things at the Greyfox Bluegrass festival in 2005) so he always has a special place for me. His album Into the Cauldron (with Thile) is awesome. The Duo album with Darol Anger is another favorite and Uncommon Ritual (Edger Meyer, Bela, and Marhsall) is fantastic too

    + Aaron Weinstein - seriously admire his solo jazz techniques for chord melody playing - check out his videos!!

    + Sierra Hull - Great blends of ballads and up tempo - plus her instrumental solo and duos are awesome. Bombshell is always a favorite

    + Jaime Mansfield - He was probably the first mandolinist I really listened to with the Jazz Mandolin Project. I saw him live in Albany NY and was hooked. He does awesome renditions of Zeppelin tunes

    + Scott Gates - a Cali-kid who's not only a really cool dude, but has got a real knack for cross picking a la Jethro style. He plays with the Salty Suites and sometimes with the Get Down Boys in LA

    + Sam Bush - Always a rowdy fun time. His rhythm playing is incredible and fits his style perfectly. Anything with the Newgrass Revival works - or any solo show from Greyfox (he's playing there this year BTW)

    There's so many more, but not enough time to name them all.
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