[jmathesonjr]

This may have been asked earlier, but with some recent new recordings, I thought I would post the question:

Who is the best Flute Player? Herbie Mann? Julius Baker? Herbert Laws? Robert Dick? Holly Hoffman? Someone else/

Do not restrict your answers to just Jazz or Classical. Oh, and include the why for you choice.

Thank you.

 

[Dog Pants]

Absolutely no idea. Ask the almighty when you meet him.

The flute players I like to listen to most....the Irish.

I listen to classical players, Jazz players, Rock etc. I'm familiar with Lew Tabackin, Jethro, Pahud, etc.

But for sheer joy, sound and spirit, I find myself coming back to Matt Molloy, Gallway, Seamus Eagan and so on.

I was lucky enough to attend several jam sessions on my visit to Ireland and the contrast with Jazz or Blues jam sessions had a profound impact on me.

If you ever visit Donnegal, be sure to stop in at Leo's Tavern!!!

 

[Art Hazard]

Jean Pierre Rampal covers classical beautifully. Severino Gazzeleoni plays brilliant on modern compositions. Eric Dolphy and more recently James Newton dazzle me with intervalistic speed.Hubert Laws defies catagories and plays it all including salsa.Mali Lingam is the most amazing south indian veenu player ever.All these guys have a warm full sound!

 

[RootyTootoot]

In my opinion, James Moody is an absolutely wonderful flute player, and he isn't mentioned as often as he should be.

 

[jmm1713]

Hubert Laws .

 

[stefank]

I can report that Galway is a great bloke to have a drink with. I got to play one of his Coopers too. Must be nearly thirty years ago..........

 

[Troubadour67]

My favorite players :

Classical : Jean-Pierre Rampal (ah, Claude Bolling's Suite for flute and piano jazz trio...) : the classical sound for me. I also like Aurèle Nicolet and Melanie Desmarais, among many others.

Jazz/fusion : Jeremy Steig, Malik Mezzadri. (and Kenny Garrett, who did very good flute job on Miles Davis' Munich concert, circa 1988)

South American music : Altamiro Carrilho

I also like a lot the guys who played on several Bob Marley's records!

 

[danarsenault]

This makes about as much sense as asking what is the best flavor of jello. The fact is, I'm the best flute player. Just ask me, I'll tell you.

 

[cornific]

Lou Tabackin really does it for me. his tenor is great too.

 

[kymarto]

Check out Hariprasad Chaurasia on the Indian bansuri to find out why it is great to play a flute without keys...

Toby

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

And check out Simion Stanciu "Syrinx" (on Erato label) for standard flute works incredibly played on pan pipes, blemish-free, trills and all. He makes Zamfir sound like a beginner.

 

[Carl H.]

Check out Peg Cornils if you get a chance. We shared a studio for a while a few years ago and she is amazing. She is doing a solo recital at Carnegie Hall late winter/early spring 2008, I forget when exactly and can't check my date book cause I'm not at home. Wonderful person and a great musician/composer. If you are in NY go see her!!!

 

[Swingin' Cat]

Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

I liked Rampal's Bach sonatas, and his soulful Mozart Flute & Harp concerto.

 

[Babydoll3133]

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull). He is the reason I am starting to learn the flute.

 

[BarrySachs]

Frank Wess & Yusef Lateef

 

[RJRusso]

Ian Anderson gets my vote. (but I haven't heard many of the others, and I like green jell-o).

Reason: I have heard him play a few times, and I have also listened to Jethro Tull albums.

jell-o is good for you.

 

[asaxman]

My favorites, for classical: Galway, Rampal, Baker. For jazz: Tabackin, Farrell, Laws, Ali Ryerson. I also like Wess, Lateef, and Moody, (if I'm in the mood). No pun intended, OK a little!

 

[Kritavi]

For sheer beauty of tone my favorite is Yusef Lateef.
I like Rahsaan Roland Kirk very much.
The late Harold McNair was a great and underrated player.

 

[RootyTootoot]

I just did a little tiny bit of internet research on this topic. Apparently, Dan Arsenault is the best flute player. I read this on something called "Sax on the Web". But I think maybe Eric Dolphy might be better at jazz.