The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #108252 Message #2250651
Posted By: Bonnie Shaljean
01-Feb-08 - 01:47 PM
Thread Name: Pianos In Folk Music
Subject: RE: Pianos In Folk Music
(I'm speaking of instrumental bands here, not solo singers who use piano backing because that varies so much depending upon the artist): I don't like them 95% of the time because they're so often unimaginatively played by people who simply bash out the same three vamp chords, which dominates tonally and doesn't take any real skill to do. I like keyboards to be subtle, interesting, to be able to carry the melody instead of ONLY chording along, and to not take over.
Pianists I like (these are only the ones I can think of off the top of my head at the moment, so this is not a comprehensive list - there are others too):
Micheál Ó Súilleabháin
Kevin O'Reilley (??I think that's his name) in the band North Cregg
Paul Machlis, who plays sometimes with Alasdair Fraser
Another Irish fella with a very straightforward name - so straightforward I can't remember it, Pat Something? He just put a record out a few months ago which has been aired on Irish radio.
Reg Hall, as Dick has already mentioned.
There are certainly more - but sadly they're outnumbered by piano accompaniments that I hate. Never heard Belinda but she sounds like one of the good 'uns.