I echo and amplify all the comments made thus far. I'll simply add that Mike's mandolin playing moves my spirit and speaks to apart of me that I can't articulate. That is transcendent and magical. And if that weren't enough, he's available to me for lessons and encouragement... Holy shit, how do you beat that? I don't know who or what is knocking you about, Mike... and as much as I might think they're crazy, the fact you're that hard on yourself with the expectations you set for your self, well it just is a helluva man and musician. Keep pushing... maybe you'll drag a couple of us along a notch or two... or maybe just a 32nd of a notch....
On Jan 20, 9:05 pm, Trey Young <[email protected]> wrote: > Well I read Mike's message at work today and wanted to chime in with > something, but never had a chance to sit down and put together any thoughts, > but kids are in bed and I've got a couple of minutes so here goes... > > Mike, the fact that you still have that sort of drive to continually push > your self is awesome. With that kind of drive, having accomplished what > you've already accomplished, it is easy to see why you are considered by many > (any with good taste) one of the premier mandolin players today/ever. As far > as the getting lucky thing, well I buy that...once, perhaps you did get one > lucky break somewhere along the line but you capitalized on it and did from > there built a reputation for yourself. As far as the "slop" you play, well I > credit the Stomp (thanks to you too David) album to being the reason I became > a mandolin player over a guitar player (not that the mandolin or music > community is any better off for it, but I am). When Stomp was released I had > just started playing the mandolin because I found a band of guys who were > playing some unconventional "roots" music and they wanted a mando picker and > I had access to one. I didn't particularly care > for the mandolin all that much, based on what I had listened to up to that > point. Then I bought the Stomp album based on the fact that you were > Hartford's mandolin picker and my eyes were opened to what a mandolin could > do, and I've been working on getting to where I can play at least 1/10 as > good as the "slop" you put down on that album. So if you feel that you have > untapped potential than man that is awesome, I admire that, but don't > discount what you've done up until now... > > Trey > > ________________________________ > From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wed, January 20, 2010 12:58:58 PM > Subject: Re: Starting from scratch....sort of. > > The Kenny G of mandolin players - that's hysterical. > > Look Tater, you've got something special going on and anyone who doesn't > recognize it IS an uneducated ne'r-do-well. > > Nothing wrong with re-evaluating, level setting, and checking your > progress now and again. > > As I see it, there are only a handful of mandolin players out there who > appear to make a decent living at it and it > appears to me that you're one of 'em. That didn't happen by accident - you > worked for it and earned it. > > Some pretty philosophical responses to your note but I'll go with > the immortal words of Billy Joel (or was it Kenny G): > > Don't go changing, to try and please -- anyone but yourself! > > John Gay > Memphis-- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Taterbugmando" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en.
