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Thread: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

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    Default New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    The only swing music with mandolin I know of is Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. There has got be more out there, who should I be listening to?

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    Registered User Michael Neverisky's Avatar
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    I'll be the first to reply but likely not the only person to suggest Don Stiernberg.

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Donnie even has a fine version of the Dan Hicks number "I Don't Want Love" on his CD "Home Cookin'" (one of my favs).

    Lots of jazz standards like the current tune of the month in his book. Check out "Swing 220".
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Tiny Moore, Jethro Burns, and David Grisman in addition to Don Stiernberg.

    There are some others that play a swing or Gypsy swing (jazz) tune or two. Greg Schochet has a nice version of Swing Gitane on youtube. He also plays with Katie Glassman from time to time, who plays Texas swing style fiddle. Jason Anick is another one, who is phenomenal on both violin and mandolin (but not at the same time!).
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by mandos&turtles View Post
    The only swing music with mandolin I know of is Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. There has got be more out there, who should I be listening to?
    Quote Originally Posted by Teak View Post
    Tiny Moore, Jethro Burns,.....

    There are some others that play a swing or Gypsy swing (jazz) tune or two.
    Swing is jazz - and was the most popular music in America before WWII and sometime after.

    Stop listening only to mandolin players. Moore and Burns were great, but they are in thin company.

    Listen to Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Chick Webb, Cab Calloway, the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, etc. for the best musicianship of the swing era. These were top artistically and commercially successful bands

    The innovators of JAZZ itself, though - swing is just a type of jazz - were mostly horn players:

    Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane.

    All of them could swing HARD.

    I suggest also listening to Django and to Charlie Christian, that will give you an idea of the Gypsy and the American approach to playing swing jazz.

    Best of luck,

    New Orleans native jazz mandolinist David Brown

    P.S. Being from New Orleans jazz is my folk music.

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    Stop listening only to mandolin players
    While I understand David's intent, it must be observed that to learn how to approach those rich chords with only four strings, listening to mandolin players is essential. Don Stiernberg is a master in that space.

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?



    The natty Mr. Weinstein is internet gold.

    As previously mentioned: Jethro, Jethro, Jethro.

    And, though he mostly doesn't play in this vein, Peter Ostroushko's swing efforts are tasty.

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Neverisky View Post
    While I understand David's intent, it must be observed that to learn how to approach those rich chords with only four strings, listening to mandolin players is essential. Don Stiernberg is a master in that space.
    Well, that is true - but I primarily play linear jazz on mandolin, more like a sax player, than try to play a lot of chord stuff which is easier for me to play on guitar anyway.

    Even as a guitar player, I was more influenced by horn players than by pianists.

    As far as chordal jazz mandolin, well, Stiernberg and Weinstein are excellent role models.

    I still suggest that to play any style of jazz well you need to know how the masters - the horn players - play.

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    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    A Mandolin player I highly recommend is Will Patton. A superb player. Johnny Gimble is a Mandolin player that plays with great Jazz “phrasing”.
    I agree with David wholeheartedly. Listen to Armstrong thru Coltrane & beyond. Current players I like are Guitarist, John Scofield, & saxophonist, Joe Lovano.
    Don’t ignore vocalists again Armstrong, & Billie Holiday, Ella, etc..., I love Joe Williams. Current singers I like are Dee Dee Bridgewater & Cassandra Wilson.
    Listen to Blues players. I don’t have wall built up between Blues & Jazz. Again, Louis Armstrong, he is one of the all time Best Jazz/Blues players & vocalists. Armstrong is the Big Bang of Jazz. I think a New Orleans guy like David might agree.
    The idea is don’t just hear Jazz with Mandolin ears. Have big earrs & listen.
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by mandopops View Post
    Listen to Blues players. I don’t have wall built up between Blues & Jazz. Again, Louis Armstrong, he is one of the all time Best Jazz/Blues players & vocalists. Armstrong is the Big Bang of Jazz. I think a New Orleans guy like David might agree.
    Armstrong is the foundation of so much American music, both as a player and a singer...yeah, I'll agree!

    As for the artificial and unnecessary line between blues and jazz, I offer another New Orleans musician and singer for you to hear - Lonnie Johnson.

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    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    I love Lonnie Johnson, solo, & backing Armstrong, Duke. His trax with Eddie Lang are a great source of Blues, & Jazz, & Swing, for rhythm, chords, & solos. A lot of it is quite adaptable for Mandolin. I used to know a batch of Lonnie’s riffs on Mandolin. I guess I should dust them off.
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by jdchapman View Post


    The natty Mr. Weinstein is internet gold.
    Thanks for that. So cool. To quote a jolly old German sergeant "I know nothing!!"

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Wilson View Post
    Thanks for that. So cool. To quote a jolly old German sergeant "I know nothing!!"
    AW is a true master of that particular style of jazz mandolin. He is quite accomplished at it, and makes what I know to be difficult look like he does this every day.

    Which I bet he does

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Every video that Aaron generously shares with us is a master class.

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    To add my .02 to some already great recommendations...
    Don Stiernberg - His recordings are like a compendium of tunes you should know, by musicians you should be listening to.
    Jethro Burns - https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pu...s_001665.shtml
    - Also get Playing It Straight/It Ain't Necessarily Square
    I also heartily second the recommendation for Will Patton.
    Don Julin's Vibe. Mr. Natural also has some great jazz.
    Paul Glasse's One More Night
    David Gross Mandology

    As to listening to lots of jazz, it definitely opens one's eyes and ears. Since I can't get educated all at once, and can't own them all, I've found it very helpful listening to a great local jazz radio station while commuting, which you can also stream from anywhere:
    https://wdcb.org/

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by Alfons View Post
    As to listening to lots of jazz, it definitely opens one's eyes and ears.
    /[/url]
    Like any musical language, you need to hear a lot of it as "spoken" by the best of the best.

    That means mandolinists as direct role models, and the jazz players in general for the overall style.

    Whatever helps you learn to play jazz, I'm all for it.

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Brian Oberlin

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Jethro Burns

    Jethro Burns with Tiny Moore on electric mandolin

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Paul Glasse

    Jazon Anick

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    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Here's Johnny Gimble playing a hollow body, with only four strings in use and a magnetic pickup. He gets a guitar-ish sound, making use of bends, etc. but this is just a short excerpt, and doesn't show all that technique. Some really nice vibrato going there though.

    https://youtu.be/LEwPtA4TE48

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Gunter View Post
    Here's Johnny Gimble playing a hollow body, with only four strings in use and a magnetic pickup. He gets a guitar-ish sound, making use of bends, etc. but this is just a short excerpt, and doesn't show all that technique. Some really nice vibrato going there though.

    https://youtu.be/LEwPtA4TE48

    He's not so bad on fiddle either.

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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    I got to meet Johnny Gimble when he was touring with The Hot Club of Cowtown years ago. He showed me his mandolin and told me he tuned it like a mandola. A very fine gentleman!

    Also check out Tim Connel with Stumptown Swing.......

    https://stumptownswing.com/home
    Last edited by Charles E.; Oct-11-2018 at 12:04pm.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Johnny was a great guy. At a festival in the 80's, he invited me into his motor home to play a bunch of tunes. A highlight for sure!
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    He showed me his mandolin and told me he tuned it like a mandola.
    I think that's what he's doing in this video, mandola tuning. Great that you got to meet him and see his mandolin, and I know it had to be fun for Pete to play with him.
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    Default Re: New to swing mandolin, who should I be listening to?

    I know this is an old thread, but I just want to thank David and you all for your suggestions.
    I've recently been getting really into swing music, so I searched the forum to get some ideas for what I might listen to on my flights home for the holidays. You guys rock, what a treasure trove of listening. I'm starting with Lester Young and Louis Armstrong.
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