Just for fun.. Who are your top 5 living mandolinists?

[Pasha Alden]

To Imando and Padawin thank you so much. Well without knowing who David Mansfield was, I can now say I love his playing. I am going to find his music. Padawan, a million thanks. I am going to give those a listen.

Hopefully they soothe me, as I am not feeling healthiest today, a bit of a tummy bug. Took something for it and now going to find those gentleman to listen to and maybe have piece and drift off to sleep.

[mrmando]

David does a lot of work on flim soundtracks:
http://www.david-mansfield.com/store.html

I recommend checking out his recordings with the Alpha Band if you can find them:
http://www.amazon.com/Arista-Albums-...pd_sim_sbs_m_1

[AlanN]

During my high school days, David played in a band called Quacky Duck & His Barnyard Friends, which had the Bennett boys (Father: Tony) in it. He (David) demonstrated his musical prowress even back then.

[Pasha Alden]

Hi Emando thanks. I am checking all out. Incidentally I found duets by Mike Marshall and Chris Thile I think on Itunes.

Will see if I can buy.

[pefjr]

Until anyone on this list takes me fishing or invites me over for dinner, my #1 spot is pretty much reserved for my dad, to whom I've been giving lessons for all of about four months now.

--Tom

hmmm.... from a father's point of view I am touched, from a son's point of view, your post brings back memories and a tear. Thanks

[Regulator28]

1. Marty Stuart (he's the first that I'll always remember as being the one who made me want to learn to play mandolin after having played keyboards in a R&R Band for 6 years, some 25 or so years ago...I record his show on RFD TV on Saturday nights just to see if he plays his mandolin that night...I love watching him play...)
2. Chris Thiele
3. Sierra Hull
4. Rickey Skaggs
5. Ronnie McCoury

[JeffD]

I would have to say that Marty is one of my favorite musicians, on any instrument.

[Gene Summers]

I would have to say:
1) David McLaughlin (Monroe is my favorite style, Johnson Mtn. Boys)
2)Jimmy Gaudreau (Teamed up with Tony Rice, awesome picker)
3) Mike Compton (Plays Monroe style, what can I say, it's my fav!)
4) Ronnie McCoury (Awesome picker, love his speed and precision)
5)Chris Thile (Truly one of the great virtuosos of our time)
Plus many others! This is the short list...

[Astro]

Alan Jackson

Yep, he switched to mandolin right after The Letterman Show.

[mritter]

1. Grisman
2. Thile
3. Ronnie McCoury
4. Bush
5. Marshall

[Herbm55]

Let's try and keep it civil........Discuss.

Grisman (for his genre contribution)
Bush. (Drive and rhythm)
Steffey (Cleanliness)
Reischman (compositions)
Marty Stuart (if for nothing else than his break on "Jerusalem Ridge" off of the Carl Jackson "Song of
the South" album)

[Newmexmandoboy]

I was amazed that it took until page 4/5 to see Jake Jolliff mentioned. And then even more amazed he didn't appear again. He is bar none my favorite rhythm player, including Mr. Thile, and his lead playing is phenomenal too. All it takes is one look at this. It's just crazy good. Every time I listen to it I just can't believe it.


The best part of all is I get a weekly pick with a former bandmate of Jake's. Ian Fleming from Pupville (which also included Sam Grisman, Alex Hargreaves, and switch hitting on mando Dominick Leslie and Sarah Jarosz). I pinch myself once a week.

In the spirit of the thread:
Marshall
Jolliff
Thile
Dominick Leslie
Me

[stevejay]

Herschel Sizemore
Sam Bush
David Grisman
Norman Blake
Peter Ostrusko (sp)

[AlanN]

Boy Marty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6nmib7UaKA

[mandolino maximus]

There's more than can make a living from us few. I could listen to Josh Williams on mandolin all night. And guitar the next two. And vocally all three. Not that I wouldn't put some others mentioned in this thread on a list of five, but just for variety's sake: Josh, Jesse Cobb, Frank Solivan, Kym Warner, Ashby Frank and Joseph Brent. OK, that's six. But five is an extremely unfair number. As is 15. And I've heard, what, 5% of "the good ones" worldwide? So many players, so little time.

[Jean Fugal]

what is the definition of best?
my favorites are
Jake Jolliff
Matt Flinner
Ron Spears
Frank Solvine
and
Compton

[Steve Ostrander]

Ronnie McCoury
Sam Bush
Chris Thile
Dawg
Ricky Skaggs

[OU1]

1. Sam Bush
1a. Ricky Skaggs
2. Sierra Hull
3. Mike Marshal
4. Chris Thile
5. Anyone who plays the mandolin!

[re simmers]

Bush
Steffey
Bush
Steffey
Compton

Bob

[Al Bergstein]

Without reading every post, I'd have to say that it's a North American bunch of people on here! I can't even begin to narrow the field to 5. Every time I go to the Mandolin Symposium I see 15 or more that are superb.

While I love the playing of all those who have been mentioned already, and they have been very influential, as I have been mainly playing choro and other stuff over the last few years, here's five out of 20 or so I love listening to and I consider to be some of the top players I've had the pleasure to know or see live:

Hamilton de Holanda
Danilo Britto
Dudu Maia
John Reischman
Simon Mayor (UK)