A positive music thread

Subject: A positive music thread
From: mooman
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 10:37 AM

I dont often start threads but just felt, sitting here during a quiet moment of a (rare) quiet time at work, that I would list, in no particular order of preference, bands or performers who have brought me musical joy in live performance in the last couple of years. I'd be interested to hear of other peoples' lists as I'm always on the lookout for recommendations for must-see performers.

Here goes:

Musikas (Hungary): Pure excellence and obvious enjoyment of playing!
Milladoiro (Galicia): As above!
The Gangbe Brass Band (Benin): Complete musical exhuberance!
Bebel Gilberto (Brazil): Oh yessssss!
Ani DiFranco (USA): Great performer, either solo or with band
Youssou N'Dour (Senegal): What a singer and great band!
La Bottine Souriante (Quebec, Canada): Sheer brilliance!
The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA): "Glad you could come and see us! We might not be around next time you come!"
Brendy (N. Ireland, Norway and Mudcat): The guy is brilliant! Made me give up the guitar as well which has raised a fair bit of cash!
Sam Pirt (UK): A genius! Almost made me like the piano accordion

Peace,

moo (of eclectic taste and living in Belgium)

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 02:09 PM

Buddy Tabor, Alaska/USA, writes gritty songs that make one think and give hope that our art will one day save us. Besides, he is a great performer.

Seamus Kennedy, USA, I'm cheating here, because I have not yet heard him live, but people whose judgment I trust say he is superb.

Tommy Sands, Ireland, a songwriter and singer and soul I will always drop everything to go hear and see.

Mick Moloney, Pennsylvania/Ireland, An onstage presence and delivery that always pleases and inspires.

There are so many more.

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 06:58 PM

No-one compares to Martin Carthy.

Pete Coe is always great.

Kent acoustic heroes "Sussed" are inspiring (if not folk).

For a man who can move from the English tradition to arranged such, and onwards and upwards, with striking guitar and voice, I would mark Davey Rumsey as a hero to be.

Brian and Marion Rodgers ("No Worries") are both musical (and make the difficult look easy) and entertaining.

Steve Bailey can make you wonder how a white man from Cornwall can sound so uncannily yet not slavishly as if he came from the wrong side of the tracks in Chicago.

Jeff Cole and Matt Loft ("Loft Conversions") take the cyclical jangle of Renbourn/Jansch and the pistoning drive of Nick Drake into the modern world.

Marion Button simply redefines the modern singing of unaccompanied traditional folk song. Go! Worship!

Richard Matthewman is an excellent Edinburgh (but now in Kent) singer-songwriter with some nice traditional material if his arm is twisted, and a splendid tenor voice.

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 07:08 PM

David Broza (Israel). Master of the Spanish guitar and a warm, passionate performer.

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Gray D
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 08:12 PM

Blowzabella - felt like I was 17 again when I went to one of their 25th. anniversary concerts - light, optimistic, completely filled up with the music.

Chris Wood - 'kin wonderful singer, just listen to the way he sings "Poor Old Horse" on the CD he did with Hugh Lupton.

A Filetta - Corsican men's group - sang with them when my voice was on top form - can't describe the feeling.

Mtiebi - Georgian men's group - as above but was taught the songs by my much missed friend and the choir's leader, Edischer Garikadnitze ( his son Gigi [hard G's, as in "get"] leads the group now)

The Babi's of Bistritsa - technically a bunch of Bulgarian grannies, but they had a 17 year old with them when I sang with them (no, really, I did, on bass, of course).

James Taylor, John Martyn, Robert Plant . . . egads, how long do I have here?

Gray D

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Kaleea
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 08:58 PM

Tommy Emmanuel, CGP--my fav Guitar player on the planet.   When I used to be able to work, on the most stressful days, I listened to Tommy CDs nonstop and was in a better humor than had I been rather well oiled.

2 other kinds of Music can put me into an ecstatic state--just plop me down into the middle of a BagPipe circle or a Steel Drum Band, and a Mariachi band is quite close, too!

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:12 PM

Eric Bogle

El Greko

Gordon Bok

Kendall Mosrse -even with his vocal problems - but I am biased.

Looking forward to hearing and meeting Utah Phillips.

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Auggie
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:55 PM

Frank Vignola
-a ridiculously overtalented jazz guitarist


Billy Novick
-clarinetist extraordinare


David Grisman
-If Sam Bush isn't, then David Grisman is, the world's best mandolin player


Michael Smith
-THE quintessential singer songwriter. Not the world's best voice, but after listening to his remarkable lyrics and all over the neck chording for just 5 minutes, you'll be hooked.

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 02:02 AM

Gray, I agree with you about Georgian choirs. Astonishing music. Caucasian wedding bands are also terrific.

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 03:13 PM

I've been thinking about this one. Will post more, later, but for the moment, Derrymacash (a Mudcatter) and Alba, anudder Mudder, plus a bunch of others!

Subject: RE: A positive music thread
From: Gray D
Date: 30 Jul 05 - 08:58 PM

So then, Kat?

Gray D