The best of the UK Concertina players

Subject: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:25 PM

Here are two concertina players who I love to listen to. You can as well.

The first is Bill Whaley from Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher
This video was taken by Sue Dewsbury at Faldingworth Live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1kAMmkLHC4

The second is Iris Bishop, seen here with Martyn Wyndham-Read

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKKJzzChzRQ&feature=PlayList&p=50D5402B4373FE8B&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=41

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:49 PM

I think 'best' is a very personal thing...

I know lots of excellent concertina players, Bill Whaley included, but I wouldn't want to say any were 'better' than others.

Given that, here is my list of concertina players among my favourites, in no particular order...

John Kirkpatrick
Keith Kendrick
Brian Peters
Roger Edwards
Mary Humphreys
Alastair Anderson
Steve Turner
Bernard Wrigley

Apologies to those who I've inadvertently missed, but I'm in the middle of cooking my evening meal!!

;o)

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:53 PM

..if we are making a list, let's add Pete Trimming!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 02:02 PM

Oops... I hope no-one thinks I was excluding Bill from my list! I have fond memories of the Purple People Pleaser...!

For those who don't know, it was a prototype MIDI English Concertina, painted purple.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Les from Hull
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 02:25 PM

Well it's obviously Chris Sherburn on Anglo!

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 02:39 PM

Sorry Bernard, wasn't implying anybody was better than anybody else. Substitute Best for "Who you like"

Saw Chris at faldingworth and yes a fine player.

Saw Keith Kendrick when he was live on the folk program for Radio Lincolnshire. I was in the same room as he explained to Rodders how to suck and blow. Yes another fine example.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: vectis
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 06:19 PM

Will Duke

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Tootler
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 06:57 PM

Andy Turner

Mary Humphreys was mentioned above. I'm surprised that Anahata wasn't also mentioned at the same time.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 07:06 PM

Like I said, I was cooking my tea... of course Anahata should get a mention!!

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 07:07 PM

The late Tony Rose, too...

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 02:54 AM

Let's not forget Alan Day. The fact that he's my partner-in-crime and I owe him a tosheroon is quite beside the point...

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 03:09 AM

Robert Harbron surely deserves a place on any 'best of' list, and certainly comes right at the top of my 'those you like' list - lovely technique and a dab hand with a tune counter-melody and/or a song accompaniment.

And for sheer speed and key-clattering technical brilliance, Simon Thoumire earns a mention.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 03:27 AM

Thanks Will, but the likes of Concertina Players can be put down to styles of playing a few names not mentioned are
Anglo Players

Niall Vallely
The late Andrew Blakeny Edwards
The late Nigel Chippendale
Harry Scurfield
John Watcham
Roger Digby
Mandy Murray

English System Players (missing out the past greats)

Robert Harbron
Danny Chapman
John Nixon
Lea Nicholson
Martyn Bradley
Dave Townsend
Alistair Anderson
Damien Barber
Simon Thoumire
Graham Jenkins
Sarah Graves

Duet Players

Ralphie Jordon
John Morgan
Gavin Atkin
Jon Boden
Pam Bishop
Geoff Lakeman
Chris Coe
Sylvia Needham
Becky Taylor

Above are all featured on the International collections
Duet nearing completion
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Erich
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 04:21 AM

Chris Timson & Anne Gregson

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:32 AM

I would like to add Louisa Killen ,Alf Edwards,The New Mexborough Concertina Quartet,New Mexborough Concertina band, Harry Scurfield,Chris Droney,Mary Macnamara, Dick Miles, ScanTester.
http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: bubblyrat
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:48 AM

Well, people I know, like ,and admire ;

Patti Smith

    Noreen Keene

      and on "duet", Alison Fenner

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Arnie
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:02 AM

Good Soldier - I saw Dick Miles perform for the first time last Friday night. He explained that he'd had a house fire in Ireland and his favourite concertina was damaged. He turned up at our folk club with a new concertina that he was breaking-in. Now I have little knowledge of concertina playing but Dick sounded pretty good to me, even with his new concertina and some buttons in different places. He's also not bad on guitar. As he's written a couple of concertina tutor books, according to his website, then I suppose he must be up there as a contender.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:05 AM

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Dick Miles, probably the only concertina player who could give Simon Thoumire and Aly Anderson a run for their money in the technical virtuosity department ...

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:16 AM

Dick Miles was mentioned Murray, By dick himself.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:23 AM

This is a wind up. Dick Miles is Good Soldier Schweik LMAO

Nobody needs to mention Dick as he does it himself LOL wink wink

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 08:27 AM

There are some wonderful Irish players, but as UK was mentioned and the precise address of them, Southern or Northern was unknown to me I thought best to leave them off my list. There are of course some wonderful old players including William Kimber that I thought would make the list endless
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 08:52 AM

Wasn't Dick also in both the New Mexborough Quartet and the New Mexborough Band?

I would just like to recommend myself as the best English concertina player in our house, and my wife is the best anglo player.

And if only the lurcher had opposable thumbs we could buy her a duet, and then she'd be the best duet player in the house and we'd have all three systems covered.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 09:30 AM

Okay, as we're going down the shameless self-plugging road, I play both English and Anglo, and am considered fairly adequate...!!

A Leg End in my own lunchtime...

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 09:40 AM

sfmans - is the lurcher available for gigs yet?

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 10:15 AM

sfmans - is the lurcher available for gigs yet?

I'll check her diary, but she won't get off the settee for just any old gig you know, I'm not sure you'll be able to afford the Winalot ...

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 11:29 AM

sfmans - is the lurcher available for gigs yet?

I'll check her diary, but she won't get off the settee for just any old gig you know, I'm not sure you'll be able to afford the Winalot ...

Bugger - I was hoping to hear her play with David Grisman on one of his ""Dawg" duets... :-)

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 11:32 AM

Someone once said : 'on the internet, nobody knows you're a dog'. True, isn't it? Unless you put videos on Youtube ofcourse.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 12:12 PM

the trouble with Dick Miles is that his head is so big,he cant get out of his house.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 12:55 PM

Alexander Prince.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,guest - Jim Younger
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 03:57 PM

Julie Carter, who played with Ian Blake (and me) in the Momeraths, and also with Shirley Collins, was pretty damn good at constructing interesting accompaniments on the English - a much better musician than a number of the English system players mentioned here, a couple of whom frankly make me chortle with derision. But whatever turns you on, folk fans ... hey ho. She gave it all up years ago, so I believe.

Not wishing to rain on anyone's parade, of course. (As if I could.)

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,surreysinger sans cookie
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 04:32 PM

Alexander Prince on Maccann duet - definitely. (Said by someone who had never heard of him, or heard his playing three years ago ... LOL)

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 04:41 PM

And there's always Paddy Marchant on English.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 05:51 PM

for the record, guest Mick Diles is not me, but someone intent on taking the Michael.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Tootler
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:36 PM

I'm not bad on the Shruti Box, but I don't think that qualifies somehow [g]

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Les from Darlo
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 08:12 AM

An older lady, greying hair plaited in a bun, who went into a pub session in Whitby an hour or so after it had started, took an Anglo out of a hessian shopping bag and played 'David of the White Rock' in a minor key and a selection of O'Carolan tunes then quietly went away before I could get her name. Moved me nearly to tears.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: mikesamwild
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 08:25 AM

I've just got a Jeffries Duet
so Michael Hebbert (Free Reed CD, Rampin'Cat) and 'Big Nick' Robertshaw RIP and Gavin Atkin

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:13 PM

Gordon Cutty.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: treewind
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 02:12 PM

"Gordon Cutty."
Now you're talkin'!

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Jane Bird
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 02:20 PM

Sheena Masson - terrific dance musician and English concertina player

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:17 PM

Treewind, yes, but it illustrates how badly phrased the original question was,best at what,song accompaniment? playing classical music? playing jazz,playing morris tunes, playing northumbrian music, playing irish music.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 05:55 PM

I agree with that Dick,we can go on and list just about every UK and Irish and Concertina Player and Bands past and present and have a never ending list. There are concertina players mentioned on this thread that I have not hear of, although I have been working on this players subject non stop for six years.Even then some wonderful players are out there playing along in their front room that only their family know about.
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 05:06 AM

Which opens up another area of discussion that would warrant another thread maybe: does it matter that fine players don't pursue getting wellknown and play away happily in their own environment?

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Alan Day
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 05:23 AM

Interesting Peter as I have just been discussing that very subject with Colin Dipper. There are a number of excellent players that like to remain anonymous.
Al

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 06:22 AM

The subject of being happy to play in private and shun the spotlight has been touched upon on concertina.net. To my surprise some people got almost angry at the notion that someone would want to stay in his/her own environment and play for the entertainment of friends, family and oneself above all.

Someone should start a separate thread.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: mikesamwild
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 02:28 PM

Peter if you start it you can ask the appropriate question

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 05:28 AM

I agree that I could have done a better job on the wording of the title.

I was hoping that mudcatters would provide names (not a list) of nice concertina players and provide links to youtube videos so that the uneducated could gain knowledge about them.

I might not like each video, but it would give me an idea of who these artists are. After all I might like to go and see them, if they are ever in my neck of the woods.

HTH

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 06:45 AM

Hi Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr/Prof Itus, may I then take the liberty of adding 2 links to my favourite UK concertina player? It's Chris Sherburn, who has been mentioned once on this thread. He plays a Dickinson Wheatstone anglo and currently plays in 2 duos who tour regularly in the UK.

1st duo is with his long-term Irish partner Denny Bartley:
Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley


2nd duo is with his English partner Bella Hardy, with whom he appeared on BBC4 at the Folk Proms:
Bella Hardy and Chris Sherburn


Gail

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 07:01 AM

Hi Gail

I know Chris well and thank you for posting the links. He is a fine player.

Arthur

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Graham O'Callaghan
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 09:59 AM

Well, his name has already been mentioned earlier and I must agree that Rob Harbron is THE best. A virtuoso concertina player of outstanding sublime quality. Technically brilliant within such line-ups as Van Eyken:Harbron, Dr Faustus, English Accoustic Collective and numerous other duos; musically gifted with a huge base knowledge and experience of world music (especially Scandinavian) and music history; a master of musical style and adaptability - he toured with the Chip Taylor band (writer of Wild performed by Jimi Hendrix and Troggs)and finally an outstanding song accompaniest - of which I have some experience of.

Subject: RE: The best of the UK Concertina players
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 10:01 AM

Wild Thing?