Not sure what you mean. Bela has been arguably the most prominent banjo player in the world for nearly 40 years, I'd hardly call that buried. Noam and Jens true to a lesser degree. Do you mean that there are so many virtuosic players that Bela/Noam/Jens just aren't as "ahead of the pack" as they once were?

This young man impresses me, now plays with The Edgar Loudermilk Band
youtu.be/HRX7ZFwWqTE?si=QFv45LhBiAU0ZtU6

Well, I don't think I agree that the established big name players like Bela Fleck, Scott Vestal, Alison Brown etc are "buried". These people are still prolific performers and (thank goodness) continue to produce amazing banjo playing. However, I think I understand what you mean about huge number of new, young hot players that continue to appear. It can be bewildering, and it's hard to keep up with the 'cutting edge' of banjo playing. Rather than seeing this as a problem, I see it as a sign that we are in a new "Golden Age" of banjo music. There is so much interest in the banjo, with so many gifted people inspired to play it, I think we can look forward to ever more jaw-dropping developments in new playing techniques and banjo sounds we mere mortals can't imagine today.

The best way to look at it IMO is to sort of divide them generationally.

no this was not to bash anyone--It was more like Keith guessed --''not ahead of the pack "I could have named many that used to make the cover of frets or banjo newsletter --but have drifted away--
thanks for all of the  responses--
it was more an observation of the properties --the properties of being '' at the top'' now days--
this comes to mind -especially the'' glory is fleeting''
“For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.”
? George Patton

Since this was called out---I guess we all have our own opinion on what we tend to'' bury ''in our gray matter --so we will tend to differ

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

This young man impresses me, now plays with The Edgar Loudermilk Band
youtu.be/HRX7ZFwWqTE?si=QFv45LhBiAU0ZtU6

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Outstanding!

I think that the technology and the multimedia resources now available to be used for purposes of learning and inspiration are having a profound effect on the proliferation of virtuoso musicians. The effect that YouTube alone is having is inestimable.

I just put them in a mental file of as'' good as they get''--but it is getting to be a large crowd

I think there's Bela, Noam, Jens, Tony, Alison -- and then there's everyone else.

This is not to take anything away from inventive all-time greats like Alan Munde, Butch Robins and others who are still playing. And there are plenty of younger players who are outstanding. But to my mind they're not yet advancing the banjo like the first I mentioned.

I don't listen to, let alone know of, everyone on the scene, so I could be wrong.

This doesn't strike me as a topic when any of us can be totally "right."

I am not following you on the topic's legitimacy Ken but since I am the party that started it--you have me curious-thanks

this is not about who is tops, --it is about the modern way the gifted  become part of'' heroes on every corner'' while driving thru town

more of an opinion on dealing with being bombarded 

but as always I never ask for agreement --

At least in the world of bluegrass, one can ask "If you're in a really good jam at a festival, what current banjo player is so towering that you would leave the jam to go watch him/her on stage?".

It used to be in past decades that there were about half a dozen banjo pickers who had this kind of drawing power. Earl, Dr. Ralph, Sonny, JD, and maybe a couple more.

I can think of one today, although I can't remember his name right now. When Dan Tyminski takes the stage with East Nash Grass as his band, that's the banjo player. Straight ahead Crowe style bluegrass, but he's just COMMANDING. I would add another who is certainly underappreciated, Jeremy Stephens with High Fidelity. Wow! But you kinda have to like Reno-style to get it.

I got into banjo playing in the Stone Age, 1980. To listen to Bluegrass, you pretty much had to buy albums.
This created a familiarity with the banjo player who was with the group on the album.
Compared to today, there was not that many premier players, and you could discern individual players by their style.
Eddie Adcock was not going to be confused with Ben Eldridge or JD Crowe, as an example.
I’ll listen to the Bluegrass Channel on Sirius, and hear some fantastic stuff, infinitely better than anything I’ll ever accomplish.
But there are a couple of things I kinda feel are missing.
I never know which banjo player I am hearing. Even if the person’s name is shown, it is someone I never heard of.
And, I hate to say this, they tend to sound alike, fabulous though they are.
And of course I am only speaking for myself.
Perhaps am now talking like my Grandfather, but now I am one!
I don’t know if maybe there is a new person considered to be the greatest.
Maybe there is.

I'm not saying the topic's not legitimate. Of course it is. I guess there's more to it than just the subject line "The current top banjo guys." I think the current top guys (and at least one girl) are some older, established, players. I don't know who among the younger players is at the top. Probably some are close.

I could have included Ryan Cavanaugh. Not only great, but is advancing the instrument. I think he's about the same age as Noam.

It's quite possible I'm not getting the topic.

it's exciting and inspirational for me when i discover a "newer" player that is smoking hot, no matter in what supposed style: Ricky Mier, Billy Failing, Kyle Tuttle, Eli Gilbert, Victor Furtado.... just to name a few....there are soooo many and that's a great "problem" for the banjo universe to have...nobody's disappearing....if anything they're just going to get more acknowledgement and recognition from the next generation that cut their teeth on them....and almost always sing their praises.

OK got you ken yeh my introduction was off center of the target --as usual --it is about how the line up changes raridly so those guys --to me are great examples --they have already gotten a large crowd standing on their shoulders --
I didn't and still don't go for a who is better than whom -with so many ways to judge --but yes Ryan is good as they get for sure--Yep clawjam I got to go to clifftop a few years back and got to see a young Victor --he asked to play my banjo--

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Originally posted by The Old Timer

At least in the world of bluegrass, one can ask "If you're in a really good jam at a festival, what current banjo player is so towering that you would leave the jam to go watch him/her on stage?".  <snip>

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... you mean for free, or would I hafta pay?