I will throw a slight curve at you. My current favorite band has mandolin and it has a primary place in pretty much every tune they play (I don't think they have recorded a song without it). Their mandolin player is good, but won't make many "great" lists. It's the Yonder Mountain String Band and the mandolinist is Jeff Austin. I actually prefer their live stuff to the more recent studio release, but the studio release sold very well. They are all over the map stylistically, but the mando is always providing the percussive beat (no drummer) and somr good general rhythms and solos. I also play Rich DelGrosso's "Get Your Nose Outta My Bizness" CD quite a bit. He is a blues mandolin player.I like some of the old bluegrass standards from a number of bands and Dawg and Bush are among the top recent players but I am sure others who know that ground better will cover it.
"First you master your instrument, then you master the music, then you forget about all that ... and just play"
Charlie "Bird" Parker
Bookmarks