I’M A FAN FRIDAYS

Hello, friends and welcome back to I’m a Fan Fridays!

I got to doing this every week a while back, and I’m excited to start doing it again. It is really something I love doing–sharing a great performance or a moment that really altered me. It is what the arts do at their very best.

For our first Friday back after a long time away, I want to share with you someone I know you are just going to be in awe of and fall head over heals for.

It is truly a rare occasion when one can say they were alive when the “greatest there ever was” at something is living among them. We can all say that about this individual.

I first saw Chris Thile play the mandolin with his two “Nickle Creek” bandmates at the Pennsylvania Folk Festival in 2001. I surprised Malisa with tickets, and we had the most wonderful day. Arlo Guthrie closed the show that night, but after those kids burned down that stage, there wasn’t much left for old Arlo to do.

Chris Thile is the greatest mandolin player I have ever heard. His range is unreal. He’s not only an amazing virtuoso in any style, he is also a very gifted singer/songwriter.

Today, I’m going to give you a two-for-the-price-of-one type deal. To show both Chris’s range as well as his singing and songwriting ability, I’m bringing in two different examples.

The first is a glorious interpretation of a Bach work for violin (the mandolin and violin are tuned identically, though obviously require two completely different techniques) and the second is an original song Chris has played as an encore for his solo concerts but plays here on the radio show “Prarie Home Companion,” which he is currently hosting every Saturday night.

If you enjoy his work as much as I do. Share away!  ENJOY!!