Who is your favorite accompanist?

Subject: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 01:33 AM

Can you name a person who you feel greatly improves a singer's presentation?Pianist,mandolinist,guitarist,violinist,cellist, or ?

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Genie
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 01:44 AM

I can't speak categorically for all types of accompanying instruments for all types of songs, but there are three people who come to mind immediately from the last two FSGW Getaways:

David E. Scheim, who can back up just about any song - beautifully - on harp

and

Leadfingers, who can back up most anything on whistle, guitar or who knows what?

and

Ron Davies - especially on viola (not to mention his amazing whistling)

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Elmore
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:50 AM

Javier Mas, who accompanied Leonard Cohen on his 2008-2010 tour. He plays a variety of stringed instruments.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:54 AM

David Rawlings is really inventive.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:56 AM

Paul Downes - the best guitar accompanist in England. Swine!

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:02 AM

Being a blues player it's most definitely a harp Harmonica) player...

B~

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:26 AM

Pianist/accordionist Huw Warren,who works with June Tabor,among others.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:44 AM

Anahata - there's none better. ( Melodeons of many kinds, anglo concertina, cello and even pipes on occasion.)

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 12:00 PM

Since this is a subjective concept, I'll nominate meself!1

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 01:30 PM

Genie - I am GENUINELY flattered to be included with David and Ron !
nd I would second David on harp - Fond memories of 'The Entertainer'
the night I first met him in 2005 !

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 06:20 PM

"Anahata - there's none better."

You're biased, of course, Mary! You're right though.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Greg B
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 07:34 PM

Phil Cunningham.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Greg B
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 07:35 PM

And J.T. Fearnly

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:17 PM

Peggy Seeger. Consistently brilliant on banjo, guitar, dulcimer, piano and concertina.
John Roberts is no slouch, either.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: PHJim
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:23 PM

Martin Carthy ranks right up there.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 10:52 PM

Second Phil Cunningham. Also Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, David Lindley, Ry Cooder and James Burton.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Effsee
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:04 PM

The late Micheal O Domhnaill was one of the best IMHO!

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:07 PM

Dave Swarbrick

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:08 PM

and John Doyle.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 04:26 AM

Well, singer/guitarists accompany themselves when singing.
Nic Jones was the master of comming upwith interesting accompaniments.
The way he weaves a rock riff in to the traditional "Billy Don't You Weep for me" is sheer brilliance.

Rock on Nic!

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: scouse
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:08 AM

Watching Arty McGlynn this year with Tim O'Brien and Dirk Powell was pure joy.. The beauty of the guitar work from Arty was in itself a master class of being there!! If anyone has had the chance to see them perform will know what I mean.

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:39 AM

For my money Eddie Lang is the greatest accompanist ever. Not primarily a folkie obviously, he was a jazz guitarist, though he also recorded loads of folk(blues) material. As an accompanist he was absolutely superb, whether for fellow guitarist Lonnie Johnson, many singers(Bing Crosby on numerous records) and of course all the jazz band work. As a sample, have a listen to Bix Beiderbecke's "I'm Coming Virginia". The recording is a good lesson in Eddie Lang's accompanyingskills as he is put right up front in the mix so you can enjoy all his twiddly bits(and he's featured in the intro). Bix doesn't come in till half way through, by the way, so don't sit thinking "Where's the trumpet?"
Basically, people accompanied by Eddie Lang always sounded better than they otherwise would have: that's the test.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Guest TF
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:46 AM

Some of the posters don't seem to understand the question. Obviously what Azoic means is "Who is the best accompanist for June Tabor?"

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 07:43 AM

Where is June Tabor mentioned?

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,pete
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:12 AM

John Doyle

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:21 AM

Iris Bishop.

It was after Iris did a workshop on Accompanying at the Australian National Folk festival a few years back that I really understood what accompanying is about. Every note she played enhanced Martyn Wyndham Read's singing.

sandra (chorus singer who can't hold a tune on her own & understands nuffin' about playing music!)

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: John P
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:47 AM

Soig Siberil of Kornog.
Roger Tallroth of Vasen.
Gabriel Yacoub of Malicorne.
Micheal O Domhnaill of The Bothy Band.
Me, in that when I play I always get to hear what I want to hear.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 11:52 AM

I am asking who is your favored accompanist for anyone,not necessarily June Tabor.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: PHJim
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 12:01 PM

Eldon Shamblin and Junior Barnard, both of whom played in Bob Wills band were great accompanists.
Sarah Vaughan put out a couple of records with only a guitarist and maybe a bassist. I had copies of records with Sarah being backed by Barney Kessel (my fav)and one with Mundell Lowe, also a great record.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 01:44 PM

Right, Eddie Lang also on Singing the Blues, Clementine and others with Bix and with Joe Venuti.
Django Rheinhart, when he stops soloing and starts comping behind Grapelli on those Hot Club of France recordings things really start to go.
William Coulter backing up Elise(Sp?) Kennedy.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:11 PM

Of course, Eddie Lang was a big influence on the late Shetland guitarist Willie Johnson whose accompaniment style received a lot of praise/attention some years ago.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: treewind
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:17 PM

I'll second the nomination of Iris Bishop and also mention guitarist Jeff Gillett, who often works with Ron Taylor.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Tinker from Chicago
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:47 PM

Here's a vote for Richard Kniss, the longtime bassist for Peter, Paul & Mary and briefly for John Denver.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Guest TF
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 07:26 PM

Tunesmith. Seven posts down, since you ask.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 11:58 PM

Thanks for the kind words, Genie.   i am flattered at being included on your list with Leadfingers and David Scheim. David is simply amazing--especially the way he can literally pluck a jazz harp accompaniment out of the air. I'm sorry I don't get a chance to hear Leadfingers very often--usually only when I make it over to Sidmouth.   When I do, it's a pure delight to hear him.

As far as my own accompanying, I try to adhere to the maxim of the famous accompanist Gerald Moore, reflected in the title of his autobiography---Am I Too Loud?    Aim is to weave a harmony or countermelody around the singer or lead instrument, not being tentative, but only bringing the viola out at the ends of phrases, unless given the opportunity for a break. And trying not to trespass on the singer's range unless doing a duet with him or her.

To complement, not compete.l

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Genie
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 12:31 AM

Well said, Ron. That indeed is a key ingredient of being a great accompanist.

I didn't start out thinking of really famous people - partly because I've seldom seen them in action in unrehearsed settings.   Thus, people who came to my mind right away were people like you and David and Terry, who seem, understandably, to be in great demand as accompanists at Getaway


But if we're including famous people, including those who are no longer with us, I'd never have kicked Chet Atkins or Jerry Garcia off the stage either.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Jim Martin
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 12:37 AM

Tracey Dares (Cape Breton keyboard player & simultaneous stepdancer) takes some beating!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxGPpmW0N2g

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Frank Lee
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 04:33 AM

Gerald Moore CBE. 'As an accompanist, Gerald Moore is credited with doing much to raise the status of accompanist from a subservient role to that of an equal artistic partner', (from a website). I have a 78 on which he accompanies Owen Brannigan which demonstrates this art very clearly.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 04:53 AM

We ALL have to have 'some' Ego just to get up and perform - Part of being a good accompanist is to NOT let the ego take over and to LISTEN to what others are doing , and , as stated above , to compliment , NOT Compete .

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 13 Oct 11 - 08:40 AM

"not being tentative"    "duet with him or her".   And every situation is different.   Every voice is also different.   With Lucy's wonderful keening voice, for instance, I never have to hold back.

There is also the question of the words.    At the Getaway we were mostly playing and singing to each other without a mike, and the audience should hear the words of the singer.   But the thicker the musical texture, the harder to do that.   So that had to be taken into consideration.

In fact when I accompanied Big Mick for his song about the coffin ships, I dropped out completely when he was reciting the French words which comprise one verse, so there would be just Mick and his guitar, and the audience would have the best chance to hear every word. In fact I found that one of the top highlights of the Getaway--just listening to Mick recite the verse in French--very affecting.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: PHJim
Date: 11 Nov 11 - 06:36 PM

The late John Herald did some wonderful guitar work on the early Ian & Sylvia records. I think he also played (uncredited) on some Tom Rush and Ramblin' Jack albums too.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Wally Macnow
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 06:03 AM

Bruce Hutton, Washington DC area plays all the right notes behind a song.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 06:11 AM

keith kendrick

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 06:24 AM

Tunes here but I think the accompanying that stuck me most was Charlie Lennon with Noel Hill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uYFQAYQ2W8

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite accompanist?
From: GUEST,Frank Lee
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 07:13 AM

Has Ralph Rinzler had a mention? A while back now but he produced some lovely, tasteful, tuneful, enhancing and unobtrusive guitar and banjo work on one of my very first folk albums, Topic's 'Still I Love Him' ,10" LP where he accompanies Isla Cameron. Still, after more than 4 decades (possibly 5!) one of my top favourite records.