Tom Smith - Posted - 10/22/2008:  08:22:37

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I guess I’m a minimalist when it comes to recordings. I particularly enjoy solos and duets. Listed are some from my collection. I’m sure there are plenty more. Any suggestions?

33 Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals by Clarence White
Whiskey Before Breakfast by Norman Blake
Live at McCabe's by Norman Blake
Church Street Blues by Tony Rice
6 and 12 String Guitar by Leo Kottke
Live At The Linda by David Grier
I've Got the House to Myself by David Grier
Aerial Boundaries by Michael Hedges
Tone Poems by David Grissman and Tony Rice
Bluegrass Guitar Duets-Steve Pottier & Sandy Rothman


Tom Smith

ColonelTC - Posted - 10/22/2008:  08:28:36

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"Not to Far from the Tree" - Bryan Sutton, it's one of my favorites to play along to...

Tom Smith - Posted - 10/22/2008:  10:44:46

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Thanks. I just looked it up at Amazon, and it look like one I definitely need to add to my collection.

Tom Smith

Chadtheguru - Posted - 10/22/2008:  13:59:46

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Skaggs & Rice by... Skaggs & Rice :)

Tom Smith - Posted - 11/05/2008:  02:20:37

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Am I allowed to answer my own question ...
I just remembered another.

Live in Montreal (DVD) - Stanley Jordan

Not Flatpicking and not a CD, but amazing

Tom Smith

robin jones - Posted - 11/05/2008:  07:10:16

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Greg Morton's solo album sounds like a winner. I've only listened to the "free" clips but I've got the actual album coming. I'm enjoying his latest project, When Pigs Fly, which has quite a few heavies playing on it.

gregmorton.net/

"The Force is with you young Skywalker. But you are not a Jedi yet." Darth Vader

cottontop - Posted - 11/05/2008:  09:39:33

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John Prine has done several duets w/ Iris Dement. He also has a CD out in which all of the recordings are duets of him and different famous female singers. But, I can't remember the title.
cottontop

Tom Smith - Posted - 11/06/2008:  03:01:56

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Thanks for the Greg Morton link. That sounds just like what I had in mind. I'd be interested to know if the CD is as good as the clips indicate.

That John Prine recording with several female singers is, I believe, "In Spite of ourselves," and its a real good one. I hadn't heard Iris before that, and have since bought her "Infamous Angel" CD which is one my favorite singin' CD's.
John Prine's first album was just him and the guitar, and is a classic.

Thanks for the feedback.

Tom Smith

Tom Smith - Posted - 11/27/2008:  05:47:24

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I just got the Greg Morton Solo CD. It is very good and a welcome addition to my modest collection. I've communicated with him some via email some since, and he is good guy as well as a great picker .... salt of the earth (sorry, i couldn't help it).

Tom Smith

robin jones - Posted - 11/27/2008:  08:42:38

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Glad you're enjoying the Greg Morton disk. And yes, he's very nice in addition to being extremely talented. His twin brother, Randal, is one of the finest banjoist in the world and very nice and humble, just like Greg.

RJ''s Banjo Hangout Home Page

"I find your lack of faith disturbing." Darth Vader

Tom Smith - Posted - 12/17/2008:  04:45:45

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Early Christmas...
I just got "Not to Far from the Tree" - Bryan Sutton. Its as good as I expected (Good).
Also got Wayne Henderson/Steve Kauffman "Not much work for a Saturday" (Very good, too)

just joe - Posted - 12/17/2008:  18:34:01

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On the CD Mac, Doc and Del there is a duet of Doc Watson and Rob McCoury doing Black Mountain Rag that just stops me cold every time I listen.

Tom Smith - Posted - 12/18/2008:  02:37:39

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Thanks. I just poped over to amazon.com to check it out. They have sample clips, and I see what you mean.

Tom Smith

Tom Smith - Posted - 02/04/2010:  17:37:36

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To add to the list, two DVD's: Rice, Grier, and Smith & Kilby, Davis and May. Both contain outstanding solo's and duet's, as well as trio's (trio's?).

ccravens - Posted - 02/04/2010:  18:39:45

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chadtheguru

Skaggs & Rice by... Skaggs & Rice :)

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I HAVE to second this selection as one of my favorites in this category. Classic. Their instruments and vocals both blend really well together.

SLKmartin - Posted - 02/05/2010:  15:21:11

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Cotton top and I are big into John Prine he is a regular guy with a massive song writting talent, It is no accident that so many Stars want to stand next to America"s premiere song Writer,.............Jerry Jeff Walker is another Great American writer who will be standing long after the( guitar players )are forgotten.....

Tom Smith - Posted - 02/26/2010:  13:57:20

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While we're talking songwriters, we can't leave out Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Jesse Winchester, Kris Kristofferson ...

terrenceZ - Posted - 02/27/2010:  13:38:37

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I can't pass up an opportunity to plug one of my favorite albums. "Directions" by Norman Blake. Very few folks seem to have heard of this one as it is rare and out of print. It took me a year to find it on CD. It was originally released in 78' and then re-issued by Takoma records in 87' as a two-fer album with it and "Live at MaCabes" on the same disc. It's not solo as Nancy accompanies Norman on it. I have no idea why this album is out of print !!! "Directions" is an amazing album and I wish it was out there for more folks to hear. I think it is one of Norman and Nancy's best and really recommend it. WATCH E-BAY! That's where I found mine.

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Edited by - terrenceZ on 02/27/2010 14:04:39

ccravens - Posted - 02/27/2010:  15:46:59

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quote:

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Originally posted by terrenceZ

I can't pass up an opportunity to plug one of my favorite albums. "Directions" by Norman Blake.

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terrence, what a coincidence, I was able to find Directions on a music blog just a couple of days ago, and you are correct, it is awesome. I've been recently trying to get my hands on any/all of Norman's 1970s recordings. They truely are all jewels. I think I have almost all of his 70s stuff now. Most of it is still in print, except for Directions, like you said. I was lucky to be able to find it.

How have I gone this long without getting into his early music? Great songs, flatpicking, fiddle & cello, etc. I'm loving getting to know all those early albums of his. Thanks for mentioning it.

terrenceZ - Posted - 02/27/2010:  18:22:50

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Can you believe that only a couple days ago I scored an UNOPENED copy of "Directions" on vinyl for only $10 on e-bay!

ccravens - Posted - 02/27/2010:  20:46:42

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ChikPicker - Posted - 03/03/2010:  09:18:18

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David Grisman and Jerry Garcia have played some amazing music together- not necessarily just duets though.

This thread has turned me on to a bunch of new music! Thanks everyone!!

ccravens - Posted - 03/03/2010:  10:09:46

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quote:

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Originally posted by ChikPicker

David Grisman and Jerry Garcia have played some amazing music together- not necessarily just duets though.

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I can't believe noone mentioned Grisman/Garcia yet! Those guys were awesome together. Thanks for reminding me.

Tom Smith - Posted - 03/06/2010:  04:27:16

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I can't believe it either. Great addition. I just did a quick search, and they do have a "Grisman & Garcia" Duet CD, and from the samples, it's a great one!

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Edited by - Tom Smith on 03/06/2010 11:04:20

ccravens - Posted - 03/06/2010:  13:44:09

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While we're on the subject of Grisman, "Doc and Dawg" is an excellent duet album. Although it really is more of a trio, 'cause Jack Lawrence joins Doc Watson & Grisman on most or all of the songs.

Tom Smith - Posted - 03/07/2010:  05:42:39

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So to date, our solo and duet favorites collection includes ......

"33 Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals" Clarence White
"Doc and Dawg"
"Grisman & Garcia"
"Directions" Norman and Nancy Blake
"Not to Far from the Tree" Bryan Sutton
"Solo" Greg Morton
"Skaggs & Rice"
"Whiskey Before Breakfast" Norman Blake
"Live at McCabe's" Norman and Nancy Blake
"Church Street Blues" Tony Rice
"Live At The Linda" David Grier
"I've Got the House to Myself" David Grier
"Tone Poems" David Grissman and Tony Rice
"Bluegrass Guitar Duets" Steve Pottier & Sandy Rothman


Not flatpicking, but solo acoustic and creative:
6 and 12 String Guitar by Leo Kottke
Aerial Boundaries by Michael Hedges


DVD's:
"Rice, Grier, and Smith"
"Kilby, Davis and May"

"Home and Away" Leo Kottke
(Not flatpicking, but great solo acoustic)

Live in Montreal (DVD) - Stanley Jordan
(Not Flatpicking or acoustic, but amazing and guitar(s))


"In Spite of Ourselves"
(Country and country folk vocal duets, inculding 4 with my new favorite girl singer, Iris Dement.)

Did I miss any that have been mentioned so far?
Surely there are more...

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Edited by - Tom Smith on 03/07/2010 05:43:58

terrenceZ - Posted - 03/07/2010:  10:14:53

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"Blackberry Blossom"- Norman Blake. ( This is out of print but can still be found). "Be Ready Boys"- Norman Blake and Rich O'Brien. Has Anyone mentioned Blake and Rice vols. 1 and 2 ? "Far away down on a Georgia farm"- Norman Blake. "Hot and Spicy"- Flatpicking guitar favorites.

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Edited by - terrenceZ on 03/07/2010 10:18:54

Egadz1960 - Posted - 03/07/2010:  15:42:54

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I'll add a couple fav's:
BIlly McLaughlin "Fingerdance"
Rodrigo y Gabriela "Rodrigo y Gabriela"
Wayne Henderson and Robin Kessing, "Contest Favorites"
Paco de Lucia/John McLaughlin/Al Di Meola, "Guitar Trio"

ChikPicker - Posted - 03/16/2010:  09:33:01

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I sure am enjoying working my way through this list! There are several artists or combinations (Rice & Skaggs) that I had not been aware of before. Good stuff!!

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/10/2011:  09:00:40

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Norman's first solo album, Home In Sulpher Springs, with Tut Taylor, is still one of my favourites.

delboy - Posted - 02/10/2011:  14:04:47

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I was listening to John Prine on the long train journey back from London today - one track was a duet with Steve Goodman. I'd love to have heard more of those two together.

Leo Kottke Live is a great album - he's a very funny guy as well as an awesome player. Flatpick by Clarence White is an excellent follow-up to 33 Guitar Instrumentals. I like the whole stripped down singer -songwriter genre, too, and Jeffrey Foucault is currently top of my playlist - Northbound 35, which I've linked elsewhere - is just an awesome song.

SLKmartin - Posted - 02/10/2011:  21:07:05

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I just listened to Jeffery Foucault - Northbound at your suggestion and found a great talent/ I can see any John Prine fan loving this.......Thank you for a surprise treat for the ears

ccravens - Posted - 02/11/2011:  04:24:22

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jim Yates

Norman's first solo album, Home In Sulpher Springs, with Tut Taylor, is still one of my favourites.

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Seconded.

Steven B - Posted - 02/11/2011:  06:22:54

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Some good music mentioned in this thread. I've learned some new stuff and it has brought back memories of duets/trios that I had forgotten. Thanks.

Although not "exactly" the type of duet this thread is about, a couple of years ago I discovered this "bunch". The video still makes me smile, pat my foot, and wonder why I never thought of this. Tommy Gaither and Antoine Dufour.......2 guys, 4 hands, and 1 guitar. Jerry Reed would be tickled, I'd bet.

youtube.com/watch?v=i4BYMvVvMg0

Fred Etheridge - Posted - 02/11/2011:  07:18:59

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Tom
while not strickly flatpicking, definetly roots, Americana,old timey
anything from Gillian Welch & David Rawlings very talented moving
back to basics music, you will find more than one tune you will want to add to your repatoire

DaddyJ - Posted - 02/11/2011:  08:22:33

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Got a great cd (actually iTunes download) around Christmas called Flatpicking Favorites: Hot & Spicy. It's all fiddle tunes, flatpicked duet style, by contemporary flatpicking masters like Grier, Sutton, Hurst, Kilby, Fore, Smith, Kessinger, Cosgrove, (Wyatt) Rice, etc. Great stuff and worth checking out.

Tom Smith - Posted - 02/12/2011:  03:09:17

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quote:

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Originally posted by Steven B

Some good music mentioned in this thread. I've learned some new stuff and it has brought back memories of duets/trios that I had forgotten. Thanks.

Although not "exactly" the type of duet this thread is about, a couple of years ago I discovered this "bunch". The video still makes me smile, pat my foot, and wonder why I never thought of this. Tommy Gaither and Antoine Dufour.......2 guys, 4 hands, and 1 guitar. Jerry Reed would be tickled, I'd bet.

youtube.com/watch?v=i4BYMvVvMg0

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Thanks for the link. That's a cool "duet."
It reminded me of a similar kind of thing I saw on a Lonesome Pines special years ago. I looke on Youtube, and it was there.
It's called Bass Fun: Edgar Meyer and Victor Wooten coolest duet ever
youtube.com/watch?v=0wynScdeRaA