Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.

Subject: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tunesmith
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 08:02 AM

I'm in the mood for some banjo player/singers.
My favourites include Hedy West, Howie Bursen and, of course, Pete Seeger.
Can anyone out there recommend some others? ( past and present)

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Baz Parkes
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 08:03 AM

Pete Coe...when he's not playing melodeon or mountain dulcimer

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: foggers
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 08:12 AM

Riley Baugus is a superb old time US musician; an absolute delight!

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 08:27 AM

Dirk Powell, Dan Gellert, Bruce Molsky (when not playing fiddle), Brad Leftwich (likewise), Tom Sauber, sometimes Tim O'Brien, and of course the great Derroll Adams.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 08:28 AM

My favourite ever of all time: Frank Proffitt.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 09:34 AM

sara grey , roscoe holcomb http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DoATcInlYQ&feature=related

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tunesmith
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 09:47 AM

I've had the good fortune to see a number of the players mentioned so far: Pete Seeger, Derrol Adams, Sara Grey, and Hedy West.
Others who I have seen and really enjoyed would include Mike Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Tom Paley and Michael Cooney.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tunesmith
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 11:20 AM

I looked up a few of the recommendations.
Here's a great clip featuring Dirk Powell in a "dream" line up.
Love this version of "Waterbound" which is a lot more minorish than other versions that I've heard.

Dirk is Waterbound!

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: fretless
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 12:17 PM

From the older and now--alas--past generation, Wade Ward and Tommy Jarrell. Among the still living, Ken Perlman for clawhammer, Walt Koken and Bob Carlin for old timey, and Greg Adams for minstrel.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Ernest
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 01:40 PM

Dock Boggs should be mentioned here too....

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tunesmith
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:12 PM

Here's another clip of a recommended player: Dan Gellert.
BTW, these high definition Youtube clips are great.

Dan Gellert Youtube

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,SirCoughsalot
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:16 PM

Definitely Dock Boggs. Roscoe Holcomb, maybe. Bascom Lamar Lunsford is good.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tunesmith
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:45 PM

And how could I forget Debby McClatchy!
She's played everywhere in the UK.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Brian Peters
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:51 PM

No-one yet mentioned the 'best right hand in the business' Jeff Davis??

Shortening Bread

Frank Proffitt fretless banjo

Pretty Polly

Beulah Land

I've had the pleasure of jamming with both Jeff and Howie Bursen in the recent past. Oh, and Dirk Powell is damn good too.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Bettynh
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 05:27 PM

David Holt certainly plays and entertains well, but it's his interviews that are the goldmine. There are more interviews than on that link (perhaps the "banjo" search doesn't catch them.) Shiela Kay Adams, for one, and perhaps Doc Watson (though I can't find that on youtube, maybe it's only on their cd).

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 06:19 PM

For someone a wee bit younger, there's Damien O'Kane: on an instrumental track here but he also sings pretty well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb0mEB87KQM

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: pdq
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 06:37 PM

For a change of pace, try to find a copy of "Swingin' Minstrel" by Clancy Hayes. His banjo playing is essentially rhythm, but his singing and overall showman skills are great.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Mark Ross
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 06:48 PM

Leroy Troy (who channels Uncle Dave Macon), Stephen Wade, and some folks say I'm not bad on the 5 string myself.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Rich A
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 07:05 PM

Phil Tyler from Newcastle is great, see him with Cath Tyler as a duo.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: AnneMC
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 12:13 AM

A modern banjo player/singer: Dayna Kurtz - "Banks of the Edisto".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhbAt_j5AuU

Now,if anyone can tell me the tuning and chords, I would be delighted!

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 12:51 AM

Tommy Makem.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 03:53 AM

What about our own Jed Marum ?

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:05 AM

I haven't seen Jeff Warner mentioned yet and for something more up to date, Dan Walsh.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Banjiman.... on work computer!
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:06 AM

Above post was me!

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Seayaker
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:19 AM

Dan Levenson, Cathy Fink, and yes, Jeff Warner

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Tunesmith
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:43 AM

See link below to Youtube clip of Hobart Smith performing The Cuckoo.
Does anyone know where I can obtain the tab for Hobart's arrangement?

The Cuckoo by Hobart Smith

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: banjoman
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 06:16 AM

Too many great players to really single out any one, but the one who really made me sit up & listen and start playing over 50 years ago was a guy called Jake Burns who played in a C&W group in Liverpool (Kentuckians?) a contemporary of Pete Sayers with whom he had several contests to see who was the fastest picker in the Noerth West.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: paul vaughan
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 12:56 PM

I can't believe nobody has mentioned John Hartford!!!
Oh well, try this.

      John Hartford

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: ollaimh
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:12 PM

there's a yougish toronto boy named chris coole who can play with the best any time anywhere. he has . but i don't know if they are online. he does play a lot of the folk festivals that focus on mountain music.

he plays guitar as well and used to busk in the toronto subway system . that's where i met him.

i also love the aucoustic banjo playing of young sarah jarosz. look up her song "tell me true" on you tube

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 04:34 PM

clarence ashley the best version imo about the cuckoohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwlOO8RG-og&feature=relatednoas complicated as hobart smith but the overall accompinament and singning gels better [imo]

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 04:37 AM

I sing and play a really nice banjo - Just wish I could play it better !

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Silas
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 05:05 AM

Dan Walsh?

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 06 Jan 12 - 10:34 PM

Scottish not American, but well worth listening to for the quality of the songs and his unique style is the late Iain MacKintosh.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: erosconpollo
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 08:42 AM

Check out 'Mean Mary' James -- uk.youtube.com/user/meanmary80 -- a young lady with both a voice and serious banjo chops

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 03:45 PM

How about Adam hurt....

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Stew
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 03:47 PM

Sorry, Adam Hurt.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 08:27 PM

I'v always been partial to Erik Darling.   For more modetn style, how about Sufjan Stevens. And Tony Trischka' pretty amazing.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: pdq
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 09:54 PM

The initial post asks for people who sing/play the banjo. Tony Trischka is the most amazing banjo player alive today and he is a really nice guy, also. But, as far as I know, he doesn't sing.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Don Firth
Date: 07 Jan 12 - 10:04 PM

Two I recall from the 50s & 60s are Guy Carawan and Billy Faier.

And as I also recall, Frank Hamilton (Stringsinger) knows his way around one of those contraptions pretty well.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 01:02 AM

Good point, pdq. I guess I got carried away.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Max Johnson
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 12:47 PM

Paul Vaughan - I once saw John Hartford playing banjo, singing and clog-dancing all at the same time. He broke a string and changed it without breaking step. You certainly got your money's worth. I always liked 'Old Man At The Mill'.

Also, Tom Paley.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: pdq
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 01:17 PM

Of the old-timers, I don't believe Charlie Poole or Clarence Ashley have been mentioned yet.

The Mysterious Redbirds is a vehicle for Tom Paley's singing and banjo playing with some fine help from guitar and fiddle players. Paley usually has a wry sense of humor that comes through the music. Good stuff.

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 01:50 PM

pdq ahley has been mentioned
From: Good Soldier Schweik - PM
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 04:34 PM

clarence ashley the best version imo about the cuckoohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwlOO8RG-og&feature=relatednoas complicated as hobart smith but the overall accompinament and singing gels better [imo]

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: iancarterb
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 03:16 PM

I remember Pete being near the top of the posts, but don't remember seeing Mike Seeger mentioned. Jeff Davis deserves great esteem, as do all the mentioned devotees of Mr Proffitt, notably Jeff Warner. Everyone mentioned deserves the mention. If you take a 90 degree turn from Charlie Poole toward the Dixieland practitioners of the same period, you'd arrive at the contemporary Don Vappe, a Louisiana blues (tenor) banjo player, but you'd be completely removed from the intent of the original question in the thread.:)
    Carter

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 04:19 PM

I'm partial to Gillian Welch's banjo songs (esp. My First Lover)

John White's Banjo Blues is good too...

Subject: RE: Banjo Player/Singer recommendations.
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 06:01 PM

Riley Baugus is great Round Peak singer and player - not bad on the fiddle either.