Isn't monroe one of the best...

[Hans]

[QUOTE= (MikeEdgerton @ Nov. 24 2007, 11:38)]

I think I'm starting to disagree with me. #I think that Mopnroe maybe spent too much time trying to play like himself that he miss his entire essence. #

Now you've hit the nail...Frank Wakefield plays less like hisself than before he used to. He's the only one that Monroe told to get his "own style".

[lgc]

The idea of clean, pretty music is such a western Catholic idea. Monroe's playing was beautiful but not pretty. It only has flaws if you orient yourself within the very small box that is the western tradition. It's kinda like approaching music with the idea that Thile is a better musician than Nina Simone or Rev. Gary Davis. Thile can do something they can't but I bet they both made more people cry. Monroe expressed something beyond himself that does not agree with what most people in American, or American mandolin culture, are acclimated to. That is a listening problem, not an execution issue. Thile is the accoustic music representative of the American culture and you could take that as a compliment or not.

I am NOT being serious, I promise.

[mandolirius]

<EDIT: I hate it when you read through a page and start to respond, then when your post goes through you realize there's a whole page of responses you missed.>

Any chance you might be a bit too eager to express your opinion? Just a thought.

[lgc]

me?

[sully542]

Western style? Isn't that Country & Western?

[MikeEdgerton]

Country & Western are two styles.

[cooper4205]

Not sure what is "lame" about Thile's playing. #You don't have to like it (though I don't see why you wouldn't) but you also don't have to be rude about not liking it.

I respect Chris alot, but his music gets boring to me. To me (and nobody has to agree), he's too notey and sometimes it sounds like he makes stuff difficult just for the sake of making it difficult, no matter if it adds to the music or not. Monroe on the other hand, is loud, brash and in your face. It's like listening to him keeps you on your toes. It's gritty and rough and filled with raw emotion, even the bad notes. Then there's the rhythmic aspect of his playing and the one-of-a-kind way he played fiddle tunes. Anyway, just my .02, no offense to Thile fans by any means.

[allenhopkins]

Now I hate to [a] talk banjos, and [b] be quasi-serious in this hilarious thread, but since we are in Bluegrass Land...

1. Is Scruggs the best Scruggs-style picker?

2. Is Bill Keith the best "Keith-style" (melodic) picker?

I am, however, unquestionably the best Hopkins-style picker, having raised slowness and inaccuracy to the status of dual art forms...

[MikeEdgerton]

Allen, I may be with you on this one. I wanted to learn how to play the mandolin in the worst way and I do believe I may have succeeded.

[Alex Fields]

Any chance you might be a bit too eager to express your opinion? Just a thought.

Well, that, or I just didn't realize there was another page. But we'll go with the dubious psychoanalytic explanation as long as it makes you happy.

[evanreilly]

These guys both have the Monroe Style down.

[Joel Spaulding]

"I am, however, unquestionably the best Hopkins-style picker, having raised slowness and inaccuracy to the status of dual art forms... "

I have been trying (rather succesfully) to meld the two styles into one, homogenous slur, transcending all previous concepts of what mandolin ought to be....

[MikeEdgerton]

These guys both have the Monroe Style down.

What a faux pas, wearing white after Labor day.

[Peter Hackman]

The idea of clean, pretty music is such a western Catholic idea. #Monroe's playing was beautiful but not pretty. #It only has flaws if you orient yourself within the very small box that is the western tradition. #It's kinda like approaching music with the idea that Thile is a better musician than Nina Simone or Rev. Gary Davis. #Thile can do something they can't but I bet they both made more people cry. #Monroe expressed something beyond himself that does not agree with what most people in American, or American mandolin culture, are acclimated to. #That is a listening problem, not an execution issue. #Thile is the accoustic music representative of the American culture and you could take that as a compliment or not. #

I am NOT being serious, I promise.

Thile makes a lot of mandolin players cry.

[lgc]

Only with self loathing but that is a result of self doubt, not great artistry. That being said, this is a thread about Monroe style playing and its relation to Monroe and whether or not Monroe ranks ans one of the best Monroe style.

[Alex Fields]

Is there really just one Monroe style? Maybe we should be talking in terms of styles.

[mandopete]

[lgc]

Hi weebee

[Clyde Clevenger]

I've tried for years to imitate Monroe style but ended up with what I thought was my style 'til my wife pointed out that style had nothing to do with my playing.

[mandopete]

This thread makes about as much sense as antlers on a fish.

[JEStanek]

Pete,
Antlers can gore, gore rhymes with bore...

[sully542]

Is that under bluegrass evolution?

[JEStanek]

If it's Bluegrass, it doesn't evolve or it becomes no part of nothin', right?
Bluegrass with a lowercase b may evolve... Just like someone's style over time... eh?

Jamie

[Timbofood]

I heard Ashby Frank play a "Monroesque" "Hokey Pokey" with Special "C " and laughed out loud. To quote G.D. Spradlin in "Lone Wolf Mcquade"... "Style, Mcquade, The best always have style"
Guess that probably doesn't carry much weight but, What the hay!

[Scotti Adams]

..I just got done listening to what I think is the original version of "On and On" by Mun with Jimmy Martin on guitar...that break that Mun takes is just pure scandilous...its dirty..mean...its definitve Monroe...