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Thread: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

  1. #1
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    What are some classic and new must haves?

  2. #2

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Anything by The Dubliners featuring the great Barney McKenna, every tenor banjo player followed Barney.

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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Cathal Hayden is the business, both on fiddle and banjo. I belive he's made a CD called Hooked On Banjo, but I haven't heard it.

    David A. Gordon

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    Registered User bruce.b's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Gerry O’Connor isn’t bad.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zXPBV4U9h0U

  7. #5

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Shaun, Gerry O'Connor's Time to Time is great, as well as Seamus Egan (of Solas) has several albums, including A Week in January, as well as some others. iTunes has them for download, and if you look around you may find some used CD's as well as some vinyl of these. Seamus also has a new album out (I believe it's been released). For technique though, Gerry O'Connor is the kind of the triplets. Jon Carty is also a great banjo player.

    I am hoping Jill will pop in here and also give you some names.

    Have you gotten yourself a tenor banjo?
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  9. #6

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    As well as John Carty's solo recordings, check out his and Brian McGrath's dual banjos in recordings by At The Racket. See https://www.allcelticmusic.com/artis...n%20Carty.html and https://thesession.org/recordings/artists/289

    Brian Kelly - genius playing - both solo and with The Long Notes. See https://thesession.org/recordings/320 and https://thesession.org/recordings/2211 and https://thesession.org/recordings/2869 and https://thesession.org/recordings/5495

    Darren Maloney (RIP) See https://thesession.org/recordings/4028 and https://thesession.org/recordings/1444

    Kieran Hanrahan - both solo work and with Stocktons Wing - see https://thesession.org/recordings/243 and https://thesession.org/recordings/artists/59

    Angelina Carberry - see https://thesession.org/recordings/887 and https://thesession.org/recordings/1125 and https://thesession.org/recordings/artists/1100 and https://thesession.org/recordings/5635

    Sully and Johnny Keenan (RIP) see https://thesession.org/recordings/354

    Brian McGrath - Pure Banjo see https://thesession.org/recordings/3289

    As mentioned above, Cathal Hayden - see https://thesession.org/recordings/artists/231

    The Border Collies - see https://thesession.org/recordings/1254

    Anything by Craobh Rua - see https://thesession.org/recordings/artists/159

    Some fine banjo playing on Mulcahy Family recordings - see https://thesession.org/recordings/artists/297

    Liam Farrell - see https://thesession.org/recordings/1172 and https://thesession.org/recordings/3455


    I'm sure there are lots more that I just can't call to mind at the moment. But hunting down and listening to those above should keep you occupied for a day or two...

    Aidan

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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    There are many great Irish TB players around now that any list would be incomplete. Gerry O'Connor, Seamus Egan and Cathal Hayden, already mentioned, are all great. In terms of albums I enjoy listening to I would include CDs by Damian O'Kane, and Eamonn Coyne (both really well recorded) and Angelina Carberry. Don't forget also We Banjo Three, a group containing two of the very best TB Players, Martin Howley and Enda Scahill.
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    mainly Irish & Scottish but open to all dance-oriented melodic music.
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    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    That's enough to keep me busy for awhile!! Big thanks everybody, especially Aiden for that massive list. Hell, I already had the Gerry O'Connor Time to Time recording and had completely forgotten about it. The hazard of having a large digital music library.

    Mary, I've had a Vega Little Wonder that I picked up years ago. It's just been sitting in the back of the closet. So with all this time on our hands I thought I'd get it out and play around with it.

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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Angela Usher - https://youtu.be/_UFREO0qF3U I took lessons from her last year for about 6 months via Skype, really lovely player and writes great tunes as well.

    Shane Mulchrone - https://raelachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/solid-ground

    Páraic Mac Donnchadha - https://paraic.bandcamp.com

    Theresa O'Grady - https://theresaogrady.bandcamp.com/releases

    Pauline Conneely - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idW94djUOpc

    Stevie Dunne - https://youtu.be/4nErMi1w0qA

    Anything by Angelina Carberry or John Carty.
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
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    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Thanks for chiming in Jill! Love your videos.

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  17. #11
    Harley Marty
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Quote Originally Posted by bruce.b View Post
    Gerry O’Connor isn’t bad.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zXPBV4U9h0U
    Yes he's passable
    I don't know if she does much with it anymore, Sharon Shannon is a good banjo banjo player

  18. #12

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    She’s a not-bad heavy metal shredder, as well.

    https://m.facebook.com/sharonshannon...9136332745002/

    - - - Updated - - -

    She’s a not-bad heavy metal shredder, as well.

    https://m.facebook.com/sharonshannon...9136332745002/

  19. #13

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    I'd add Mick Moloney's "Strings Attached" recording to the list.

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  21. #14

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Don’t try this at home !!

    https://youtu.be/khy7uPergbg

  22. #15
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Great players but most I can only admire and hope to learn from.

    To play along with on record, I like:

    Kevin Griffin on Ceili Bandits "Hangin at the Crossroads", check out the Belles of Tipperary set, sample at last track here:
    https://www.amazon.com/Hangin-at-Cro.../dp/B004WLFPJ4

    First tune is Belles of Tipp in D, other tunes in the set are The Plough and The Stars in G and the Cape Breton Fiddlers Welcome to Shetland in A.

    That track alone os well worth a download if you don't have it already.

    I also like the banjo playing behind Sean McGuire in A Man Apart, can't remember who it is right now - you can listen to a bit on this link https://music.apple.com/gb/album/a-man-apart/515360937, track 7. "Graham Townsend/Cherish the Ladies"

    The "Graham Townsend" jig is actually "Rocking Chair" by influential Canadian fiddler Graham Townsend, one of his great tunes in the unusual key of C.

    Lastly but not leastly, it's a joy to be able to play along with every track on Tom Doherty's "Take the Bull by the Horns" featuring Mick Moloney on banjo on most tracks and various members of NYC group Cherish the Ladies , including Tom's daughter, backing Tom throughout.

    try The Silver Spear set sample on this listing:
    https://store.compassrecords.com/pro...l-by-the-horns
    Bren

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  24. #16
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    I highly recommend both of Cathal Hayden's solo CDs, especially the latest one, "Hooked on Banjo." Even though he is a superb fiddler, he is a monster on banjo.

    The Angela Usher disc is lovely, and inspired. Somewhat laid back as banjo goes.

    A couple of years ago, John Carty issued a recording called "The Good Mixer." Over twenty years ago, he and his mates got together after their final performance at a pub in London, and laid down some tracks at his house. He forgot about it, and years later discovered the recording, and released it. Terrific selection of tunes, and just straight ahead great playing on the tenor by John.

    Some of you might enjoy "Liag", last year's recording of John Doyle, former Altan member Dermot Byrne, and Eamonn Coyne on banjo.

  25. #17
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    And then - not Irish, but - then there's Gary Peterson of Shetland ...



    I had the pleasure of playing this set with Gary in a pub session once or twice.

    Maybe nobody noticed I was playing maybe 1 note to Gary's 3+

    the tunes are all by the Shetland accordionist Ronnie Cooper:
    Millbrae A
    Miss Susan Cooper D
    Callum Donaldson A
    Mickie Ainsworth D
    Bren

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  27. #18
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    So much good music here. Cathal Hayden's Hooked on Banjo was exactly what I was looking for. Just banjo, guitar and some percussion. Hard to get recording though. You can listen to it on his site. I bought the recording from him thinking I was getting a download but apparently it's a physical cd. Hopefully that makes its way across the pond soon....

  28. #19
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    What a fun rabbit hole this is. So many good players, so many styles. Really liking the tenor banjo and fiddle combos. Of course the more banjo centric recordings are great too. And Enda Scahill and We Banjo 3......totally obsessed!! Aside from the banjo playing they are my new favorite band. Like Mumford & Sons, Punch Brothers, and Solas had a baby! LOL. Their songs are very timely. And it's Irish music. I don't know how you can be anything other than happy listening to Irish music!

  29. #20
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    According to thesession.org, banjo player on A Man Apart is Sean O'Driscoll, who runs Charlie's Bar Sunday session, Cork city.

    I was in there in July 2019 . Sean was playing button box though.
    Bren

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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Great thread with fantastic players listed! But I have to chime in with a few more players of note that I really like that I didn't see. Check them out
    and enjoy:

    Alan Reid https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0h...ppXcKqP0mmxkuQ

    Charlie Piggot of De Dannan fame. I think accordion was his main instrument but his banjo playing was lovely.

    Pete Strickler a great player and teacher based in Colorado https://itmbanjo.com

  31. #22

    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    My faves are:
    Theresa O'Grady 'BANJOista' https://theresaogrady.bandcamp.com/releases
    Gerry O'Connor: 'No Place Like Home'

  32. #23
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Quote Originally Posted by Jill McAuley View Post
    Angela Usher - https://youtu.be/_UFREO0qF3U I took lessons from her last year for about 6 months via Skype, really lovely player and writes great tunes as well.
    Hi Jill, I'm fortunate enough to know Angela and played guitar on one track of her album. She turned up at the Sunday eve session which is my regular one about 3-4 years ago with John Carty. They played a tune which I attempted to back on the guitar, anyhow turns out that they had recorded it and I was made up when she asked me to play guitar on this.

    I was looking at the video and was surprised to see myself at a minute in on the left hand side of the screen. This was at the album launch gig at Chorlton Irish Centre in Manchester. The main guitar player on the album is the amazing Matt Griffin, he was gracious enough to let me play for the end of gig mash up of tunes when that shot was taken.

    Angela is a lovely banjo player and person

    Another great banjo player from Manchester is Shane Farrell, who I don't know although I do know his 4 siblings including Colin who he is playing with here. He hasn't recorded an album to my knowledge and he and Colin live in the states now (I think Florida where the weather is certainly better than Manchester, hurricanes excepted). Colin did a project last year to record a different tune every day - I think he wrote them all, here is one of them.

    Last edited by Paul Cowham; Oct-28-2021 at 7:14pm.

  33. #24
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Ah, I thought I recognised your name when I was reading the sleeve notes for Angela's CD awhile back! Thanks for sharing that video of Shane and Colin Farrell, cracking tune that! I'm one of the moderators for an Irish Tenor Banjo group on Facebook and Shane is a member. Definitely must be something in the water in Manchester when it comes to tenor banjo players, Angelina Carberry (this year's Ceoltóir na Bliana at the Gradam Ceoil awards happening this Sunday!) would be another great player from there, she's a former banjo teacher of mine as well!
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




    my Youtube channel

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  35. #25
    Registered User Paul Cowham's Avatar
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    Default Re: Irish Tenor Banjo Recordings

    Thanks Jill,
    Yep, I've had the pleasure of meeting and playing in a few sessions with Angelina Carberry when she's been back in Manchester. A wonderful banjo player.

    Another very good banjo player and mate of mine from Manchester is Brendan Dempsey. I can't find any clips of him playing on-line, perhaps I should try and record one with him, he has a right hand to die for.

    There seems to be a generation of really good Irish musicians from Manchester, typically their parents moved here in the 50's I think. Mike McGoldrick is probably the best known, it isn't just banjo players. I haven't got Irish roots and didn't know these people as a youngster, but playing the guitar, which young trad Irish musicians tend not to learn, was a passport into this world. I'm very happy to now be friends with many from this generation of musicians.
    Last edited by Paul Cowham; Oct-29-2021 at 7:49pm.

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