Customer Reviews

Man With the Mandolin

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I recently started playing mandolin in early 2011. I have in the meantime listed to as much mandolin based music as I can to understand how it should sound. The bonus is that is is such a pretty and versatile instrument, it is very easy to listen to and even my wife enjoys most of it. In the last half of the last century the mandolin is primarily associated with bluegrass due to Bill Monroe. He was an awesome mandolin player and by combining country, folk, and blues developed bluegrass music. Eventually people like Chuck Berry and Elvis (both Monroe fans) borrowed a lot of Monroe's licks in the development of rock and roll. This is why Monroe is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Bluegrass and Country Halls.

Bill Monroe asked Dave Apollon for his autograph. That's the kind of respect he gets from mandolin players. And it is well deserved. David Grisman (awesome player as well) put together this collection, and even though some of the tracks are from the 30's, the sound is amazing. This is not bluegrass, it is Gypsy, Russion, European, and American popular music of its time. It is incredible to listen to, and I would bet even most heavy metal guitar shredders would be impressed by this man's tone, speed and overall talent. Some of it is extremely fast! Coupled with the interesting life story of living through the dangerous Russian Revolution, his comedy skills (all included on the most extensive autobiography of the man available in the booklet) makes this collection a must have for any mandolin fan as well as open minded music fan in general. One of the greatest entertainers of all time playing some of the best music.

This collection is the absolute "must have" for ANY player or listener to the mandolin. My father played fiddle from the '30's thru the rest of his life, and turned me on to Django,Stephane,Stuff Smith, et. al., to include Dave Apollon.This shows that Dave Apollon played a more expansive repertoire than anyone, pristine technique, incredible feel, and on , and on ,and on. Don't let anyone tell you that this stuff is "dated" - it's state-of-the-art all the way. Get it and put it on your IPOD asap. Some of these takes were on Stephane Grossman's vinyl label back in the 80's if I'm not mistaken. You will not be disappointed.

Grayhouse68