Who's your fiddle idol?

[OkieLovinNC]

Alright, I know this has been posted before, but this is an update to the first one. Besides our Miss Sara Watkins herself, who do you consider to be one of your fiddle idols?

I would hafta say, besides Sara ( whom I named my fiddle after :D ), my idols would be Alison Krauss, Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks, John Johnson who is the fiddle player for Rascal Flatts, and Patrick Allingham of Emerson Drive. Oh, and you can't forget Mr. Charlie Daniels! ;)

Woo-hoo! [party] [noise] [run]

[matt the fiddler]

darol anger

[JayGWood]

I'll see your Darol Anger and raise you Richard Greene

[matt the fiddler]

you can't raise over darol.. mabye with matt glaser, natalie macmaster, stuart duncan, or donell leachy... mabye- :p

matt

[Bart Simpson]

I will see every fiddle player and raise Jason Carter. Considering he is my teacher and that he plays for Del McCoury[evil eye]

[MemphisLovesNC]

Mark O'Connor, anyone???!!!! He's the man. But I agree Darol is also incredible.

However, my personal favorite is Eileen Ivers. Smokin Celtic fiddler, but she can play anything.
If you haven't heard her, check out her record Crossing the Bridge.

[Goose_17]

well besides sara? i'd have to say to the one fiddler (atleast that i know of) that has a degree in webdesign from crazy go nuts university. seriously. matt, our fiddler. and no i'm not sucking up. but then again, you have to take in consideration that i don't know many fiddlers. sorry if this devalues it some matt. lol

[matt the fiddler]

NOT THE CHEAT!!!!!!!


ha ha no really... Natalie macmaster did ask me to give her lesson this summer, but still everyone listed allready....well... can school me..

[Banjo_Ken]

Why does Vassar Clemens never get mentioned in these type of polls? Go check out John Hartford's Aereo-Plain and Bela's Bluegrass Sessions (esp. Spanish Point) and you'll see what I'm talking about with Vassar.

Ken

[matt the fiddler]

darols anger's diary fo a fiddler also has a a really good track with vassar on it...... i do have to say, the last month i have been listenign to a lot of vassar... and gettign some of his licks down ... man.. how the heck does he get that tone?????


another few good fiddlers more in jazz, johnny frigo, claude fiddler williams, sara caswell, and christian howes....

matt

[luvmymandochris]

I dont play the fiddle (or any other instrument:( ) but i like Alison Krauss.

[AmandaLynn]

Mark O'connor and Liz Carroll rock my world[noise]

[Fiddlechic Erin]

Besides Sara, it would be Alison Krauss and Darol Anger.

[MemphisLovesNC]

Let us not forget Stephane Grappelli, the man who came before Darol and Mark.

When I heard him for the first time at about age 10, I thought-- WOW! I didn't know you could do that with a violin! He changed my entire outlook on the instrument.

[Bart Simpson]

Uh hum...... Paul Warren anyone?

[kokomo88]

oh I don't play fiddle either coughs:air fiddle: coughs

anywho, I LOVE love love LOVE charlie daniels and John Johnson is AWESOME! lol he's great in concert, wicked funny too lol

I love alison krauss and sara too...lol

and whoever that guy is that plays fiddle on sean and chris' i think his name is stuart duncan but I'm totally not sure...goood fiddle ppl

[ViolinMari]

MY list is long, and mostly covered by previous posts.....Mark O'Connor and Natalie MacMaster first and foremost! Certianly Darrol, Donell, and Matt G. (who I might be studying with next year....!) as well......

But I MUST add Sean McGuire!!! That man is beyond amazing.....not called the Father of Irish fiddling for nothing, and he was a killer arranger...did stuff with the fiddle that no one thought could be done. Tragic that scratchy records are all that's left......[sob]

[ViolinMari]

Silly silly bad forgetful me!!!! I didn't mention CALVIN VOLRATH! My goodness.....the modern tune-master of Canada! Anyone else know this guy??

If you don't, then go RIGHT NOW down to the local CD shop and
pick up his (1 out of about 100) recording Bonjour, ca va? album. Craziest version of the Orange Blossom Special I've EVER heard,...and this is coming from the girl who normally hates that tune SOO much that she flatly refuses to EVER play it, and looks sideways at those who do! [splat] Just the fact that Calvin got my attention with that tune speaks VOLUMES for his mastery! (okay, I'm getting just a bit silly here, but seriously, he's awesome!)

[matt the fiddler]

mari, don't forget the RFJ ers



oo- buddy spicher and billy -
just listened to them, love their harmony stuff

and after seeing billy solo for 15 mis on giant steps really really fast, with all those licks he stuck in... and he never repeated him self, or wore out a way of playing the changes [as i would do] makes me want to quit studying jazz. that tune is bad enough on horn.... probably the hardest set of changes to play correctly on fiddle or mandolin

matt

[OkieLovinNC]

Yes, finally someone agrees with me on John Johnson! I saw Rascal Flatts in concert a little over a month ago and John was a fiddle-master! Man, he's super good!

What about Pat Allingham from Emerson Drive anyone? I saw E-Drive in concert about 3 or 4 months ago and Pat was smokin' on that fiddle! He's amazing. He and Sara are tied for my idol on the fiddle. I met Pat, too, and I told him that. He blushed! It was funny! He's super sweet too, all of the guys in that band are! If you haven't heard of Emerson Drive, you should check 'em out. Like Nickel Creek, they play all of their own instruments on their CD, they're awesome!

[ViolinMari]

Cummon Matt.....we all know that the world drools for the Rockinist Funk Jammers, but we can't very weel be our own idols, can we now?? [think har maybe someone else will mention us though.......;)

[Goose_17]

well hey, if you read my post you saw who i put so..thats one person.lol.

[ViolinMari]

Yes, absolutly! *salutes* And matt's the one who'd get the fans too! [nod] Chops are GOOOD. :D

[fiddler59]

:cool:
I have several , Kenny Baker, Randy Howard (God bless his soul). Byron Burline,
Sam Bush, Vassar Clements, Buddy Spicher, Scotty Stoneman, Randall Collins,
Johnny Gimble. Throw all those up in the air and in the mix you have my style.
David Blackmon
Fiddler for WSP

[desert rose]

I have several fiddle idols. I like Bruce Watkins (no relation to Sara), I like Charlie Daniels, definately Alison Krauss, and of course, the unquestionable Sara.

I have more, but I can't remember them right now. :)

[babydoll1702]

I have way to many to mention. BUT my list contains fiddlers such as Herman Johnson, Byron Berline, Alison Krauss, and of course, Sara. BUT I didn't see anyone mention Stuart Duncan. HE IS SO AWESOME. He comes second on my list. After Herman Johnson. Herman is my teacher and the best in the world. So of course he comes first, but come on guys! Stuart HAS to be in there. He is SOOOOOO great!!!

[kokomo88]

HEY i did too!!!!!!!! lol I just wasn't sure if that was his name or not

[HighTide]

I definately love Sara's playing...it's always nice to see a beautiful girl with so much talent! I agree that all the players listed are great but here's a few for yall to add to the list, tell me whatcha think....

Sean Keane (the Chieftans)

Martin Fay (also of the Chieftans)

Doug Kershaw (not amazing, but a good country musician)

Jeff Cook (of Alabama, here again not gonna blow you away with his chops but always solid and a great performer in a legendary band!)

BOYD TINSLEY- I can't believe no one mentioned Boyd!! the guy's playing is too good to go unrecognized!!

Peace...

[matt the fiddler]

i really love the chieftians ;) wish i coudl have caught them when natalie macmaster was on tour with them......

I used to be a big boyd tinsly fan, but have really grown away from being a big fan of his style the last 4 years... he has good solos- and i have transcribed many many of his...., but i have personlly found he just don't have the vast vocabulary of my other favs [he has about 4 or 5 different solos, with variations upon them that he plays live....] and this has just kinda turned into a turn off on his playing to me... plus most of my non musician friends thinks dave matthews band has it's sound because of the sax and violin, when in auctuallity the bands unique sound is about 50% dave, and 50% carter.

i really do admire Boyd's stage presence though- that is amazing



it was nice to see ol Buddy mentioned... the Nashville swing band has some really great stuff, and are largely ignored.... too sad ....

[fiddler59]

I really admire Boyd Tinsley's success but as far as being a world class fiddler he is not. I was on tour with Widespread Panic many
moons ago and the band invited him to sit in becuase he said he
knew the parts I played on there recordings as well as what I had done live with them.(When I play live with them I doubt I
have ever played anything the same way I did the night before
or after.) To put it nicely he clamed because he really didn't have any improvosational skills. They just said never again.
Listen to Vassar Clements on Steam Powered Aireoplane, Sam
Bush, Mark O'Conner, Randy Howard, Stuart Duncan, Alison
Krauss, and last but not least Sara Watkins. I know I have failed to mention many others but this would put you in the right direction and remember, keep it kindly Newgrass.
Peace,
David Blackmon
fiddler59 :cool:

[John Zander]

Mark O'Connor! [noise]

[fiddler59]

In my last post instead of clamed it should be clammed. Other
great fiddlers I failed to mention are Byron Berline (sp?), Kenny
Baker, Buddy Spicher on the Area Code 615 albums now out on cd, Stephane Grapelli, David Crowe, Richard Greene, I could go on and on. I guess I'll take a cheap shot here, if you want to know what my playings about, check out Widespread Panics Space Wrangler cd, Emma Gibbs Band; Seven Even, and Out To The Country cd's, and any number of WSP's live bootlegs, Blueground
Undergrass's Barnyard Gone Wrong, Kevn Kinney's McDougal Blues to name a few. To tell you the truth I
really don't remember all the people and groups I have recorded
with. Remember, I did my first major label session when I was 14
and I am now almost 44 (04\21\59). Don't forget that some of the coolest licks to copy are sax licks (David Sanborn), Rock guitar
licks (Steve Lukather). Throw all those great fiddlers,sax, and guitar player(s) up in the air and what settles down to the ground
might best describe my demented style.
Hope this might give some aspiring fiddle players some other ideas to draw from.
Peace :cool:
David Blackmon
fiddler59

[matt the fiddler]

don't forget the miles you can go listening/ quoting/ living to miles davis... kinda of blue has to be ........ well.. not even going to attempt to explain or describe it.. it is that good
live at the filmore is a cd everyone shoudl listen to too

coltrane also has a TON of realllllly great licks to use.. especially his 2-5 substitutions...

[fiddler59]

Need to throw Larry Carlton, Robben Ford,(Guitarists) in the mix and Randall Bramblett (sax & keyboards). Randall was touring with Steve Winwood, you can now see him live with Widespread Panic.
Even drag out the old Allman Bros. Fillmore East recordings and draw from Old Sky Dog (Duane god rest his soul) himself. I find at
this point in the game I learn through osmosis. I may hear a cool lick that afternoon and when I play that night I end up using the idea before I've had a chance to think about it. Another thing that has helped me is to learn how to play fluently in ALL keys without having to think of your first finger as a capo. It will open opportunities for you that you would never have thought possible. :cool:
Just me spouting off again,
David Blackmon

[ERinSD]

Jerry Goodman of the Dixie Dregs is awesome. He was the original violinist in the John McGlaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Mark O'Connor played with the Dregs for a while too.

[SusanY2K1]

There are so many...
1. Mark O'Connor (hands down)
2. My grandpa, William E. Meyer (for introducing me to the fiddle)
3. Natalie Mc.
4. Darol Anger
5. Herman Johnson
6. Don Roy (of Maine)
7. Someone I can't mention
8. Matt Glaser
9. Jon Cooper (you'd never know what an incredible fiddle player he is unless you've heard him)
10. David Letterman...just kidding.
11. And all of those I can't think of right now b/c I've had a glass of wine...[shock]

[ViolinMari]

Oh my gosh Susan!! You know Don Roy?!?!?! He was one of my first fiddle idols and teachers....way back when I was like 4 years old!!! My mum and I both studied with him all while we lived in Maine. How cool that you know his stuff!!!!!! :):):):) I'll have to tell him!!!

[NCFreak]

I hear that girl from Nickel Back or whatever is pretty good. Sara something, I think.

[matt the fiddler]

i have a new fav fiddler to add to my list.. liz carroll [from chicago area] wow.. really amazing stuff.. irish, very subtile.. very very much in control.. i was in several james wiht her a few months back... and have now just started to finally learn her tunes... she is such a master at composition, .. and then her playing..

check out her newest cd.. lake effect for a real treat..

also... on this list brad phillips, britt haas, and jeremy kittel- a couple of the real upcoming gems..

[SusanY2K1]

ViolinMari,

Yes! I know Don Roy! I met him earlier this year when i went to Maine to see Jon Cooper about my new fiddle. Me, Jon and Don jammed in the shop one evening for quite a while and had a blast! Drank wine and ate cheese...it was great. Don has sent me some of his music and I've been learning it. I LOVE IT!!! He's great and soooo funny. I love the French Canadian style music.
That's so funny you know him and took lessons from him. Small world. We've been e-mailing and keeping in touch so I'll mention to him as well.
Take care!

[Day]

It would be every fiddler that I heard of and to those that may become great fiddlers one day.

[OkieLovinNC]

Originally posted by NCFreak
I hear that girl from Nickel Back or whatever is pretty good. Sara something, I think.

Nickel Back? Hmmm... never heard of them before... :rolleyes:

[Day]

Right!!!!!!!!!!! drives me mad when peopl say oh they copied nickel back.[bang] [bang] no no no.

[tree]

Aside of Sara ~

Alison Krauss
Darol Anger
Enion Pelta (from TAARKA in Oregon)
Boyd Tinsley from DMB

And not sure of their names but the fiddles in:
New Grass Revival
Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks

And let me tell you... Gabe that's been appearing with the Watkins in LA for those Watkins Family Hours - whooah! That guy can blow smoke up through his mohawk while fiddlin! [noise]

[sweeet afton]

Alison Krauss!!! She's great in concert!
Cheers[noise]

[torque-monster]

1. Jan Tappan because she's my mother-in-law, a great fiddler of some considerable repute, and she puts up with me which deserves an award!:-))

2. Alastair Fraser.

3. Alison Krauss because I have a huge crush on her

Good spot with Boyd T!

[AmandaLynn]

Posted by Matt:
<<also... on this list brad phillips, britt haas, and jeremy kittel- a couple of the real upcoming gems..>>


Jeremy Kittel. Word.
(Just felt the need to back you up on that one.)

[OkieLovinNC]

Originally posted by AmandaLynn
Jeremy Kittel.

Kittel? How is that pronounced? My last name is Kittell, pronounced Kit - tell.

This is very interesting to me. :)

[matt the fiddler]

so , amanda- how do you know my confrence roomie and frequent jam buddy?


okie- yep. that is how it is prononunced.
[well, his is more a ki- tul] he lives in michigan...

matt

[AmandaLynn]

Funny story, actually...
I grew up in Michigan as well and met Jeremy at a violin event in...I think it was Howl, MI. At the time, I had no idea who he was (this was about a year ago). The strange thing is, after I met him the first time, I saw him again at the Lansing Airport about two weeks later but I dont think he recognised me (he had his instrument with him at the airport, and we all know that people toting instrument cases are much easier to remember and identify). I now live in the Chicago area, and my teacher recently gave me a brochure about the Indiana Fiddlers Convention and there was an article about Jeremy in it. Only THEN did I make the connection. Since then, I have been listening to the downloads on his website and look forward to buying his CD when I return to Lansing this summer and will be near Elderly Instruments (which sells his CD and is coincidentally where I take lessons during the summer).
SO...
That is how I know of Jeremy. Your turn!

[matt the fiddler]

jam buddies.. i kinda knew him from being around.. but there was a jam in darol's hotel room late one night with the 3 of us.. and britt... mabye lilly, not sure if she was playing, that was really amazing.... the small intimate jams of 3 or 4 people are by far the best ones.. adn the ones that beat you up the most too.. you can't hide it when some one school's you [ like you can in a big group setting]




yea- his cd is cookin.. especially spain which goes to jazz away form the scottish feel of the rest of the cd.

and, he recently recieved the IJAE jazz improv award.. and i think originality award for ASTA's senior division competition

http://cdbaby.com/group/jeremykittel


just go buy roaming there.. well worth the price for shippign to get it early

[AmandaLynn]

Thanks for the extra info. about the CD! I'll make sure to order a copy. I've noticed on the website that Jeremy tends to play a lot in venues all over Michigan, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to go see a performance this summer.
Cheers!

[Day]

OK, I am going to add on Two more names. These fiddlers are both named Jesse. Difference in hight, any way they are both very good. They are from a band called Dolye Lawson and Quicksilver. Any heard of them? Saw them last night.

Later Day

[NCFreak]

Originally posted by Day
They are from a band called Dolye Lawson and Quicksilver. Any heard of them? Saw them last night.
Has anyone heard of them? Isn't that like saying Anybody ever heard of Del McCoury? I don't know, maybe DL&QS aren't as well known as I thought. :confused:

[Bart Simpson]

Originally posted by Day
OK, I am going to add on Two more names. These fiddlers are both named Jesse. Difference in hight, any way they are both very good. They are from a band called Dolye Lawson and Quicksilver. Any heard of them? Saw them last night.

Later Day

Day were you at Huck Finns? I was there too! Did you see Del McCoury perform live???
Jessie Stockman is the name of the fiddle player for Doyle.

[tree]

Del McCoury is great, I love em!

Also love Fiddlers Four. Rushad Eggleston, Michael Doucet, Bruce Molsky & of course Darol Anger!

[Day]

Hey Bart they were here in Az. That night at Dysart high school with a band called Harmony Breezes. I met them breifly, like one of those shake hands and say hi. I got front row. Any ways which cd are they on?

[rustynation]

I like Ashley MacIsaac (at least his fiddling) and Eileen Ivers.

[matt the fiddler]

did you know ashley is a left handed fiddler? yet don't play the traditional left handed way [stings flipped]? he plays a standard violin left handed.. so look all highly intense with his bow arm up , when playing on the e string....

[rustynation]

matt, I knew he was weird, but that takes the cake ;)

[matt the fiddler]

wierd, but incredible!

[Guesswho_Chick]

Stephane Grapelli is amazing...gave me whole new ideas in how to use the violin...never ever thought of putting it into swing, and now I'm just a little torn between playing violin or rhythm guitar if I manage to get into a jazz ensemble in college... :P

actually from the time I was like eight on, for years I REALLY wanted a violin, wasn't interested in any other instrument. But moved around a lot and didn't leave in areas that would be any good for practicing. Ended up getting into guitar when I was about 15 or 16, got one when I was 16, and now am completely in love with that instrument. But my bro's mando teacher also teachies violin, and talked my brother into trying it, so NOW we finally have one and I'm learning that along with guitar, although I'm much more casual about it then I am the guitar...go figure

When I was younger *before I was about 16* I was mainly into country, so of course wanted to play typical fiddle. Then I got into alt-rock, but was still in love with the fiddle and wanted to play that, so I felt kinda lost. Until I heard the Peter Case song, Coulda Shoulda Woulda, which was on alt-stations, but had a fiddle in it. So I guess I have to put the fiddler on that record on my list, although I have NO idea who it is playing on there...but it had a huge impact on me...and eventually I realized the violin could have the exact same role in a band as a lead electic guitar, and now I see it's similar to a sax - I guess cuz all those instruments are so melodic. And I'm obsessed with melody, so I think that's what draws me to them...

btw matt very cool you like to play coltrane on violin...I've been dying to try to transfer some of his stuff over to my acoustic guitar...and parker would be a lot of fun to play on either instrument, since he draws out each note so much, which is a technique that kinda begs to me done on violin or guitar...

[fiddlincklcrker]

:D I would have to agree with all of the people mentioned in the first post. They are all my fiddle idols.

[transformed]

mm..i have to say amen to everyone who said Stuart Duncan...i got NAWWAL the other day, and his solo at the beginning of Raining at Sunset is so gorgeous...and then today i can't get enough of Eureka... the solos in there just make me want to pee my pants or something...
also really like Natalie MacMaster and Eileen Ivers but i have just begun to dip my toes in what's out there as far as good fiddlers, so..i'm sure i would love everyone that's been mentioned

[Jason Bradley]

I would encourage everyone to listen to Fritz Kreisler -old old old stuff from 1910 or so back when records were just becoming popular. Look him up on Google, what can I say - he was the first world famous player and virtuoso and his airy perfectly intoned work inspired most of the other violinists mentioned on these pages.

[rustynation]

Listen to Paganini, Isaac Stern, Yitzhak Perlman...heee