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Recommended
Banjo Albums
Probably the best albums for listening to banjo are nearly
any of the albums from the recommended
bluegrass bands, because most of the important recordings
have been made in the context of a whole band. In order to
understand banjo in a band context it is important to understand
how a banjo interacts with vocals. I think all banjo students
should start with the Complete Mercury Sessions of Flatt and
Scruggs, the Bluegrass Album Band with J.D. Crowe, a Stanley
Brothers Cd or two and some Bill Monroe. But here are some
(mostly) instrumental albums put out by many of the greatest
bluegrass banjo players in history.
Earl Scruggs: His instrumental
album, Foggy Mountain Banjo, (Columbia) from the early
60's was THE classic. Used to be, all aspiring banjo players
would try to learn everything off of this. Earl set the standard
in all things on the banjo, so don't skip over Flatt &
Scruggs Complete Mercury sessions CD, which displays his talents
at lead and backup, and shows why he set most of the vocabulary
for banjo playing as it's still done today.
Bill Keith: Something
Auld, Something Newgrass, Something Borrowed, Something Bluegrass
(Rounder) Keith was one of the creators of melodic
style banjo, which changed the face of banjo playing in the
1960's. A former member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, this
is his first solo effort from 1976. Rounder
Trishka, Keith, Fleck:
Fiddle Tunes for Banjo (Rounder) Three of the melodic
greats on a landmark album from 1981. Bill Keith pioneered
the style, Tony Trishka took it to a more complex state, and
Bela Fleck became the standard bearer for the current generation
of banjo players.
Tom Adams: Right Hand
Man (Rounder) Tom is one of the burnin'est banjo
players going now, and this is his first banjo album. He plays
a pretty conservative style most of the time, but he's really
got an amazing attack and execution, hence the title of this
CD. Also check out the Johnson Mountain Boys, At the Schoolhouse,
a live CD with some hard-edged bluegrass that probably showcases
his all-around talents better than an instrumental album could.
Jim Mills: Bound To
Ride (Sugar Hill) This is somewhere between a band album
and a banjo album, and very listenable. With an all-star supporting
cast, Jim shows why he is one of the best in the business
and the banjoist for Ricky Skaggs. Playing in a conservative
style so in vogue now, the banjo is always at the forefront,
driving the band with a machine gun cascade of notes.
Tony Ellis: Farewell
My Home (Flying Fish) This is not your typical banjo album,
but I've liked listening to this for years. I've even know
folks who don't like banjo (can you believe it?) that like
this one. Tony played with Monroe in the 60's for a short
while, but resurfaced during a Masters of the Banjo tour in
the 80's. These are laid back, inventive originals tunes and
100% banjo - no trading off here. It's good though.
Bela Fleck: The greatest
banjo player in the world has ventured off into jazz/fusion
with his Flecktones recordings, and though they're not my
cup of tea, they give insight into how far banjo playing has
come since the dawn days of Scruggs in the late 40's. For
something closer to bluegrass home, try his album called Drive.
(Rounder)
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