Banjo?

[marshaul]

So would anybody like to make a recommendation as to good recordings of some banjo music? I'm talking instrumental, but not boring - something accessible to somebody who doesn't play banjo.

I suppose the most obvious thing to say would be stuff along the lines of "dueling bajos," but please don't suggest that.

Sorry if this sounds stupid but this is one instrument that I am totally ignorant of.

I was camping a couple of months ago and one of the guys camping with us started playing his banjo: good instrumental stuff that was actually suitable for the campfire setting. I could go for something more complex than that, but I'm not sure if I want anything with vocals.

[delcam1n0]

Marshaul,

There was a Sheffield Lab-9 direct to disc
recording (1978) of a group called Larry McNeely
with him on banjo and friends Geoff Levin and Jack
Skinner on guitar. Lovely lively stuff that which at
least gives me the feeling of being somewhere in
a logcabin the Ozark mountains when that need arises....

[marshaul]

Sounds like fun.

[Gliding Dutchman]

Hi,

What an interesting instrument! Here in SA it is used in the genre called "Boeremusiek" of the Afrikaans culture alongside the Concertina, & Accordion.

As far as my know-how goes Alison Krauss & Union Station band plays very creative and interesting bluegrass - a must. Records available from Mo-Fi Sound Lab. So long, so wrong are said to be stunning!

GD

PS - You like cats, right? As noticed from your avatar... my little baby dissapeared a week ago and I am a bit heart-broken. He was a little angel - my sweet little black furry ball...

[warpspeed]

I would recommend the following:

The Dillards
Earl Scruggs Revue

warpspeed

[newdreams]

For some really unexpected virtuosic "jazzgrass" instrumental banjo, try Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Be warned, it's more jazz than anything else. Live at the Quick is available on CD and DVD.

Bela also plays on some Tony Rice and David Grisman albums, and did some more traditional work in his earlier years.

J.D. Crowe is another great bluegrass banjo player.

Enjoy!

[bauzace50]

"Ring, Ring the Banjo"- beautiful song by Stephen Foster.
b50

[sparrow]

I don't own many albums featuring the Banjo...I do love it's sound and I understand that to play it well takes years & years of practice. When I'm shopping in Stirling this old guy is busking. He seems to play the same tune over and over but it's great to listen to him.

[lanny]

Nothing new, but I agree that Earl Scruggs was the Heifetz of the banjo, the Sheffield "Confederation" LP is the best banjo sound on record, and Bela Fleck is an amazing, super-entertaining musician, pushing the banjo envelope WAY beyond its traditional roots.

[marshaul]

Well I found the Larry McNeely confederation dics, but for $30!

I might get it at that price, I dunno...

[marshaul]

And I found So Long, So Wong on 180 gram for $40!

[marshaul]

PS - You like cats, right? As noticed from your avatar... my little baby dissapeared a week ago and I am a bit heart-broken. He was a little angel - my sweet little black furry ball...

That makes me sad to hear. I hope you find your kitty! I know whenever one of my cats dies I get real depressed for a bit, I tend to get attached to the little fuzzballs!

[delcam1n0]

A buck just aint a buck anymore...

Happened to unpack some of my old stuff
and found a 1978 invoice for that McNeely
Sheffield Lab-9 for South African Rand 25,99,
as I recall abt. +- equivalent to 50 Deutschmarks
in those days, so 30 US bucks aint bad at all
seeing I bought directly from the importers at at
least a 25% discount!

And it really still is heckuva lot of good fun to
listen to, so many years after issue!

[marshaul]

Well I found the Larry McNeely confederation dics, but for $30!

I might get it at that price, I dunno...

Well, I bought it. I hope it's as good as I think it's going to be!