your favourite banjo player

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Celeste
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 02:29 PM

Let's hear it for John Herrmann.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 02:12 PM

I should also mention Charlie Gary of Aurbon, Maine, who I ran into about 1963 when I was following the trail of antique banjos. Someone at a pawnshop in downtown Lewiston suggested there was this retired electrician across the Androscoggin River who had some nice old banjos. I carefully wrote down the directions and motored over to check him out. Charlie happened to be home and we spent a happy afternoon going over old clippings of the banjo bands he'd played in during the 1920's, but he was a 4-string banjo player. The two banjos he still had were highly ornate Bacon models, total mother of pearl fingerboards and sunburst resonators. Even 50 years ago they would have sold for over $1000! But no 5-string banjos.

As I was leaving Charlie mentioned that one of his pals had a 5-string Stewart banjo that he's been playing as a 4-string and he might want to sell it if I were interested. I had seen a Stewart banjo that Mel Lyman had been playing in a visit to North Carolina the spring before and allowed that I might be interested. He said he'd give me a call.

About a week later Charlie called and said the banjo was at his house to check out and I said I'd drive right over. Sure enough it was a S. S. Stewart, the most elaborate one I've ever run across in the wild. It was a Thoroughbred Model 3 which would now be worth about $2500. Gary said the seller wanted $55 and the deal was made.

I gave it to my brother as a birthday present; he had taught me banjo and gave me my first one, a nice little Fairbanks & Cole 5-string. However, when my brother went into the Army he left his Stewart behind and I didn't return it to him until the 1970's when I had finally found a suitable replacement, my current Stewart Orchestra Model 2; I paid more than $55 for that one to Elderly Instruments.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,kaw0703
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 12:59 PM

Hands down, Don Vappie. Excellent, excellent player and performer. I have yet to meet anyone that isn't awestruck by his performance. Won't pass up the opportunity to see him play, anywhere, anytime.
That and he's a nice guy too.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: woodsie
Date: 30 Jun 05 - 12:18 AM

Ban jovi?

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: harpgirl
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 11:52 PM

Art Thime and Frank Lindamood

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 11:48 PM

Barney McKenna on the tenor, probably the best in the world.

On the 5 is tough: Steve Martin is excellent, Rick Fielding was the best I ever sat across a table from while my own banjo was played before my envying eyes. Art Thieme has the style I wish I had. But my favorite is Howard Bursen, with out a doubt.

Don

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Jimmy C
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 11:21 PM

4 string tenor - Barney McKenna

5 string - Steve Martin and a host of others.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 10:18 PM

Oh and thanks Mrs Duck !! Quack . Your friend Guy

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 10:14 PM

I was glad to see someone finaly said Clarence Tom Ashley .
For me Clarence is at the top of my list . His power is unforgetable..i love Liily May Ledford's drive in her playing . Banjo Ray woke me up to Tommy Jerrel ; amazing . Unc Dave Macon is on a plain of his own as well . Frank Proffit is on the same level as everyone above.!! .

Buegrass I like Mr Stanley and Billy Keath and my old frienf Gordon Titcomb who is touring with Arlo Guthrie at the moment.. I always liked how clean Don Reno's playing was as well ( he had the cleanest white boots I ever saw on stage to boot) ( sorry)

All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 09:54 PM

The banjo pickers I listened to most closely were Pete Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Obray Ramsey and Billy Frair. I was never terribly interested in bluegrass picking but then I was never terribly good at that style of picking. Pete in his GOOFING OFF SUITE impreseed me with the many different styles of banjo playing one could do, and it was the same with Billy Frair. I still play several of their more exotic tunes. Peggy and Obray were more traditional old time style and I eventually decided I was more comfortable playing those tunes.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Skipy
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 04:19 PM

Leadfingers -------------- but without the banjo & just because I like the bloke!
Skipy

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,BexMcK
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 04:08 PM

My uncle Ray Frank ain't a bad old timey banjer picker... I love his version of The Cuckoo Bird.

Bela, of course, for sheer banjo cheekiness-- 'Overgrown Waltz' from The Bluegrass Sessions is the only banjo tune that has ever actually made me weep.

And on tenor, it would have to be Gerry O'Connor.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Chip Arnold
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 11:11 AM

Will Keys http://www.willkeys.com/index.html
for Old Time 2-finger style. Has nobody heard him? Check his site and listen to him.
Tom Sauber, Laura Boosinger, Bob Buckingham, Brad Leftwich, Dan Levenson, many more.

Chip

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 05:45 AM

The name I couldn't remember in my earlier post is Paul Rodden - it's been bugging me for a week, but I finally remembered.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Mrs Miggins
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 12:32 AM

Ooh you cheeky monkey, what would my old man say ?

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 02:23 PM

Private note for Mrs. Miggins:

ok, the bridge
or someplace later

with discretion - yours,

danny

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Mrs Miggins
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 10:27 AM

I've never heard a banjo player that I didn't like.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Nellie Clatt
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 10:26 AM

Barney McKenna is your man on the tenor banjo, some bugger from America is best on the five string.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 10:15 AM

'Nudder Oyrish - very precise and respectful style

tidy as a tick - she's a new'un on my list

the young and beautiful Angelina Carberry

(kept me awake out of the dashboard for the latter portion of my two hour return trip from a solo croon last night)

shoulda mentioned her right away

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 06:38 AM

Tenor: Barney McKenna. Five-string: Bob Yellin. (Barney for bluegrass ard? Still, it saves me from having to agree with you 100 per cent!)

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 06:27 AM

Ken Perlman!

God dont tell anyone I said that I like Banjo players!

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,BANJOMAN
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 06:20 AM

Me

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 12:59 AM

I spent several minutes yesterday typing up a post explaining why I like Mark Johnson's "clawgrass" style so much. It must have fallen into a post-hole. Well, I'm not typing the whole thing up again.

Mark Johnson. I like him.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Franz S.
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 11:45 PM

Mel Lyman was probably not a great banjo player, but he got me started. taught me a lot of stuff, and introduced me to Obray Ramsey and Bascom Lamar Lunsford. How can you beat that?

Forty-some years ago I was 3,000 miles from home and getting ready to climb aboard a westbound, but I decided to give it one more chance. I walked into the student union at Bowdoin College with my banjo and vowed to play untl someone came along and said howdy. That someone was Charlie Ipcar (Noble), and I will always be grateful.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 07:55 PM

Tannywheeler,

He was featured in Banjo Newsletter recently. I still have not heard him play, but I know people who rave about him. The Bad Livers played here quite some time ago (Mid-Nineties?). I had read about the stuff that they played. I wanted to go, but had something else already booked. What I will say is that they are all better than me, but I'm off to practice now.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 07:14 PM

The very one. But he also did a group for a while called the Barnburners. I think some of the same personnel. It kinda blows the mind--someone's better than perfect, if he keeps playing he just keeps getting better, but HOW can you get better than...??????? Tw

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 06:37 PM

Tannywheeler,

Is that Danny Barnes that you are referring to? Used to be in the Bad Livers.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 05:48 PM

Some greats already mentioned. There are others. Look up Roger Sprung and listen to him. He's pretty darn good. Also a fella (last)name of Barnes, used to be in Austin, Tx., then moved to Seattle. Did soooo terrific on old-timey; did the music for a movie about some robbers in Texas (who only stole out-of-state) and were related. I hear he moved more into jazz after going to Seattle. Also a guy who used to work around Austin in a group called the LOST AUSTIN BAND, name of John Clay. They did some records. Barnes worked with a group called BARNBURNERS and they have some recordings. Sprung's group (name escapes me right now) also did some recordings.      Tw

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: ard mhacha
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 02:00 PM

For Bluegrass, Greengrass or kiss me ass in Scarva, the one and only Barney McKenna.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 09:21 AM

Fitzgerald's from Navan, Co Meath

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 09:12 AM

What, no furrners?

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 09:10 AM

one more 'Murikun - Walter Hensley

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 09:09 AM

Oyrish Tenor - Peter Fitzgerald

'Murikun - Raymond McLain & Mike Munford

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 03:13 PM

Tommy Mcmanamon. Pogue turned Pope.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 02:20 PM

B.F. Shelton did a nice Darlin Cora

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 09:44 AM

Clarence Ashley did a beautiful House Carpenter.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 08:59 AM

Somebody gotta speak up for the oldtimers.

Dock Boggs for a wonderfully loopy, loose 2-finger style. Also Charlie Poole's "baseball finger" style, which was 3 fingers but sounded like two.

Best ensemble: Charlie Poole.

Banjo duet: can there be anything more beautiful than Da Costa Woltz and Frank Jenkins on "Sweet Sunny South?"

Songster: Uncle Dave Macon, hands down.

Black banjo picker: jury's out on this. Dink Roberts? John Snipes? My personal favorite is Clarence Frost.

3-finger pre-Scruggs: Charlie Parker of North Carolina's Parker & Woolbright, circa 1928, too rarely heard.

Frailing: tough to beat Tom Ashley on "Coo Coo Bird" and Walter Williams of Salyersville, Ky (Lib. Congress original on Rounder and Pete Seeger's source) on "East Virginia."

Check out Morgan Sexton too for some good sounds.

Bluegrass: Not a very original choice, but it's hard to get around the originals, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley.

modern: Pete Seeger, basing his style on Bascom Lamar Lunsford and branching out from there, did some terrific things. His Darling Corey is still a model of good clean sweet playing. He can still be one of our best traditional-revival pickers when he feels like it. Sister Peggy and brother Mike, of course, are masters of the older styles when not doing other things, but I can't pick out any one standout piece.

And, finally, Vess Ossman for the best, most fun classical banjo pickin ever.

All this off the top o me head. Heaven forbid I should start clocking my way through my record collection!

In general, a good many more contemporary banjo players miss, I think, the lilt and the construction of sound in space, a talent the older players had before lightning speed and sheer technique turned the banjo into a showpiece instrument.

Bob

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 07:32 AM

There is an excellent CD called "The Banjo Special" that features three of the gentelmen mentioned here, Arnie Naiman and Chris Coole playing Clawhammer, Brian Taheny playing Irish on a tenor plus Chris Quinn playing Bluegrass. Chris Quinn hasn't been mentioned yet, but he is the best Bluegrass player that I have seen perform. He was one of Rick Fielding's favourites. This is a very, very good CD and shows just how versatile a drum on a stick can be.

The Banjo Special

I forgot to mention Taj Mahal as another one of my favourites.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 06:48 AM

Hey Hugh,

There's a reason that you've never heard me play. It would shatter all allusions that I'm a banjo player. Sorry to hear of your troubles of late. Man, a headstone for Bobby. I hope she has a big piece of Granite, there is so much you could say.

I have heard Hugh play and he is a Banjoist.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 06:48 AM

The problem with many banjo players is, they are constantly tuning. And there are some who wait until they are on stage before they even START to tune. Makes me want to leave.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 06:06 AM

You're up early for a banjo player!

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 06:03 AM

Like `100`

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 06:02 AM

Interesting that the much maligned banjo should get to so many posts so quickly !

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 05:37 AM

Kermit? Isn't ukelele his thing?

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 05:05 AM

Merion Wood who plays with Kickin' Alice our local appalachian steppers.

Nuff said.

Sal

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST, Banjoest
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 02:06 AM

Hey, I'm sensitive! LOL

Thank you Amos, with your guitar playing and your voice, I can't help but play well. I'm lookng to a park jam real soon. I kinda got the wind knocked out of me with the death of Bobby Thompson. Friday my niece and nephew's grandmother (On their fathers side) passed away and we layed her to rest today. Then today Bobby's wife asked me to help her with a script for Bobby's head stone and it made my heart ache. It's been a bad two months but I'm ready to pick!

My favourite banjoist are and not in any order,

Earl Scruggs, John McEuen, Bobby Thompson, Ralph Stanly, Bobby Thompson and Steve Latimer, whom I've never heard play...I just like the guy.

H.W.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 11:19 PM

Amos,

Yeah, sensitive is the first word that leapt into my mind. LOL.

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 10:16 PM

All respect to the many banjoo players I have never heard; but my own favorite is our own Banjoest, a.k.a Hugh. He's effortless and amazing and sensitive as hell.

A

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 09:13 PM

A lot of the people mentioned can be seen performing here.

Woodsongs Archives

Subject: RE: your favourite banjo player
From: GUEST,Fozzie.
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 08:30 PM

Kermit The Frog.