Jimmy Ryan's new CD "Mandolin" (just a mandolin & vocals)

[Jim MacDaniel]

On of my mandolin heroes, Jimmy Ryan, recently released a new CD in November, entitled simply Mandolin. It's sort of daring in that the only instrument on it is a single mandolin, and though the performance is stripped down to bare bones with just one music instrument, it doesn't come off as sparse, perhaps in part because he is also backed up by others on vocals on a few tracks. I am really enjoying it, and particularly like to play his cover of Sympathy for the Devil for friends, just to see their eyes light up once they recognize it.

(If you like this recording, you might also want to check out JR's Lost Diamond Angel, a fully instrumented and electric "yang" to Mandolin's "yin".)

NFI

[David M.]

I love the Blood Oranges stuff, so I'll be checking this out. Thanks for the heads up.

[journeybear]

What a great and bold idea! This is exactly the kind of stuff that should help increase the uninitiated public's awarenss of the instrument's capabilities. Few comments irritate me more than those asserting a mandolin cannot perform adequately in this context - particularly when it comes from musicians, who ought to be more open-minded and know better. This sounds very cool.

[mandolooter]

sounds great, I'll have to get a copy of that soon. Im a big fan of Jimmy myself.

http://www.myspace.com/jrmando

http://www.jrmando.com/home.html

[Jim MacDaniel]

JB: I couldn't agree more, and I had similar thoughts when "A Splendid Notion, Luke Plumb's/James Mackintosh's mandolin/percussion-only CD was released last year.

Jeff (off-topic): Have you pre-ordered the new reckless kelly CD yet? (IIRC, the first 250 or so will get an autographed copy )

[luckylarue]

Thanks for the heads-up. I love Lost Diamond Angel. If you're looking for some non-traditional mandolin for inspiration, Jimmy Ryan's just the ticket.

[ira]

what a bold move to create this cd...posters are correct- it is full in its simplicity, though one might picture a pretty stark sound- bare but complete is more accurate.
i was lucky enough to take a lesson with jimmy years ago and he taught me so much in just an hour....
a great cd- advice to the mando lovers of the world- go get it.

[Jim MacDaniel]

Headsup for anyone who hans'talready purchased the CD, but I just noticed that the track Wooden Platforms from Jimmy's new CD, is available for free download over at the cafe's MP3 page.

[Ronny Stecher]

There's a couple good clips on Youtube, Thanx for the heads-up, I'll check out that CD.

[Mandocarver]

Jimmy Ryan fans might like to check out this live concert on the Internet Archive:

http://www.archive.org/details/JR2009-10-07

Great playing