I love bluegrass banjo (mostly Scruggs style but like some melodic too). I listen to bluegrass music very often; rarely listen to any other genre. However, I very rarely enjoy tunes that have multiple banjos playing simultaneously, in fact, I can't think of one that I like. These tunes that have more than one banjo playing often seem like there's way too many notes coming at my ears; almost cacophonous. Can you folks recommend some 'multi-banjo' tunes that you enjoy?
Edited by - Texasbanjo on 04/23/2025 08:08:24
Actually, I can come up with one myself...."Foggy Morning Breaking", the new duet with Allison Brown and Steve Martin is a good one. Any others?
Not exclusively bluegrass, but the twin banjos of Earl Scruggs and John McEuen playing “Soldiers Joy” on the “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” album of 1972 is intricate, musical and highly listenable. Earl plays what Earl plays, John plays clawhammer on this piece, and they twine around each other as two masters can.
Also just to hear two banjos making beautiful music together with no backing instruments, try Arnie Naiman and Chris Coole on their 1997 album “5 Strings Attached With No Backing.” It’s clawhammer, not bluegrass, but it does illustrate the possibilities.
Others with greater interest bluegrass music will, I’m sure, provide examples more to your specific listening preference, but do take a toe-dip into these other recordings.
Banjo Bandits. Roy Clark and Buck Trent.
All Eddie Adcock and Don Reno twin banjo pieces are fun.
youtube.com/watch?v=A37lT5g3ljA
Tony Trischka's album "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular" very much lives up to its name. Some brilliant stuff on it. Trischka is on every track, of course - but the duets include players such as Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Alison Brown, Steve Martin and others.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, and of course Steve Martin is playing Clawhammer not Scruggs style, but I enjoy Pikelny and Martin’s recording of Cluck Old Hen.
I have found few I enjoy myself. I little too much going on for my ears.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, I would define a gentleman as a banjo player who knows how to accompany another banjo player, but chooses not to do so.
I went to hear Alan Munde and Bill Evans do a show near Charlottesville Va and it was very well done. I don't know if they have recorded though.
Back in the day, the band Too Many Banjos had two banjos.
They both played 5-strings with flat picks, which I think of as "Duluth-style banjo."
youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK...QbwPbhiWS
I feel your ear pain. With a few exceptions, I have never been a fan of twin banjos. Sounds too cluttered, too mechanical, rather than musical.
The exceptions are the early Country Cookin albums with Peter Wernick and Tony T. They really had it together.
2 nd exception Magnum Banjos with Ed Brown Fred Sullivan and company. On Youtube.
3 rd exception is Raymond and Michael McClain playing Troublesome Creek.This is just masterful. Well thought out harmonies. Cant imagine how many hours spent arranging and practicing went into that performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlfwxc-ZyIo&list=RDvlfwxc-ZyIo&start_radio=1
quote:
Originally posted by techmanActually, I can come up with one myself...."Foggy Morning Breaking", the new duet with Allison Brown and Steve Martin is a good one. Any others?
Agree ..... very nice and tasteful!
I really like Echo in the Valley — Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn.
also, Éamonn Coyne recorded a number with Ralph Stanley called 9 String that I thought was pretty cool.
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