David Grisman Quintet featuring Mark O'Connor play on Austin City Limits

[@davekassel5531]

After 30 plus years, this piece is still as fresh and alive as when first performed!

[@namcat53]

Yes! Solid.

[@jbbucio7022]

40 Now!

[@TheSilverNightingale]

In 1980, when this was recorded, these guys were: David Grisman - 35, Darol Anger - 27, Mike Marshall - 22, Mark O'Connor - 19! and the late Rob Wasserman - 28. Genius level playing all! One of the most super of supergroups ever!

[@wwsuggs2857]

Raced home from somewere. slamed a mono cassete into machine and recorded this show..."live". Listened to this show for next 30-40 now 45 years. Finally made a copy on CD. AND THEN Carried it in my traveling service truck(s) for 200,000+miles over the 13 years I drove to the 15 branches my employer operated. CN,NY.PA.NJ.VA.OH.MI. GA.FL. played it for anyone that showed interest... in hearing something not top 40 garbage day in and day out. Made many believers of acoustic truth out of metal heads so to speak. Made alot of friends along the way. Still fresh and so alive... no faking it...just playing all the right notes.

[@ElectricCelt56]

Darol Anger makes fiddling look effortless! Good call-response, mimicry. Even Mark O'Conner is listening to him.

[@bigfootdean]

One of the best collection of master musicians ever.

[@ryand.5857]

Can’t get over Mike Marshall back then! These guys are all so damn good.

[@brianfuller2241]

As good as Mike was then I think he is even better now. And a really nice guy to boot.

[@JewandGreek]

Best DG lineup ever! RIP Rob Wasserman.

[@lizg6515]

A gorgeously constructed and played musical piece. A tour de force by all of the players.

[@po3tictreachery672]

Darol is such an incredible player.

[@user-qg2uf8jp3h]

The american Jean Luc Ponti.

[@SlightReturn666]

They all are. Boy are these guys ever outstanding

[@andrewrobin5969]

That’s Darol? Have never seen the “young version”….stellar!!!

[@jimwoods5785]

I have watched this video many times, and enjoy it each time I see it. These guys are some of the best musician's around, and still are.

[@andrewcalton9751]

What an awesome song. I believe the peg slipped and detuned the e or 1st string is what happened to him around 6.40 in the song. He looks like he asked David to take the rest of the break but got ignored. What a recovery and what an awesome musician.

[@matthooper5059]

I thought the string snapped at 6:38, sure sounded like it but maybe it was a peg slip. You can read his lips at 6:58, something like "You take it". And yeah, he recovered like a boss. Crazy.

[@mulliniks51]

Saw them at the Queen Elizabeth Center in Vancouver . I believe it was 1980 . I recall being completely blown away by the guitarist - and then he picked up the fiddle .

[@namcat53]

Right. I saw Mark when he was a teenager...Holy ----! We all knew we saw a genius.

[@wandamundy1759]

I could listen to this Music 24/7. In much the same way as I can listen to 'YES' and 'ELP' all day long for days at a time - I find this to be soothing AND exciting !! I loved "Strength In Numbers" (when they were happening) - "The New Nashville Cats," "The Celtic Connections," "The Trans-Atlantic Sessions,'' 'Union Station" - I just never get tired of these groups and this Music. Thanks to all these folks for keeping us all inspired - who keep on creating the sound-track to our Lives. I never get tired of hearing "Blue Men Of The Sahara," "Tarkus," "Awaken" - and Alison & JT singing "How's The World Treating You." Just sublime.

[@jimvandemoter6961]

The very first time I heard Dawg Grass Dawg Jazz all I could do was sit there with a big stupid grin on my face. Then I turned a good friend on to it and she said something I've never forgotten, "these guys are having serious fun." That has always summed up music for me even all those years I spent performing and teaching music, "serious fun."

[@moonmunster]

All these players are so awesome! I'm glad I was alive on Earth at the same time so I could hear them.

[@davidGrainger]

I was going to post the same thing - happy to be alive to hear/see this. Shout out to DA's traditional fiddle tune break at 7:58!

[@HUVISZ]

these guys are tripping. Beautiful stoned music.

[@Atkinsfan]

Whoa. This is amazing. Superb musicians at the top of their game.

[@JazzBear]

Very nice. Brings back memories for me. I had all of the Grisman recordings on vinyl back in the day. As a kid I would learn Darol's solos verbatim on my violin. I always liked his sound. And still do.

[@georgehandy127]

Fabulous musicians and fabulous hair.

[@alanzneyk4986]

Como disfruto este tema todos sus intrumentos grande mark oconnor. Saludos desde chile 28 tengo te escucho desde siempre

[@Dlrealife]

What a fantastic video this is. It's a joy to watch and listen to

[@stevethompson6130]

Saw them perform the same set at the Santa Cruz Co. fair back in 79-80? Best gig I've ever attended.

[@milesofentertainment]

Already our favorite violinist, we jumped on "Markology" as soon as we discovered it in the record bins and were then and today in awe of the the music, sound and production of that album. We have "Best of" playlists for a dozen or so of our favorite guitarists and there is a "Best of Mark O'Connor" among them, on guitar of course. This performance would be on our 25 to take to the grave. We love all genres and this is one of our very favorite videos we never get tired of watching. The band is super elite, and the broken string and quick re-tune to finish the guitar solo just proves it. For the many puzzled at that, watch and listen at 6:38 for the snap and observe the nod and quick tune. One of our very favorite guitar players. And violin. And mandolin.

[@BrianNeil]

Excellent Mark, this was one of my all time fave Grisman outfits, thank you.

[@pharmocist13]

See if you can hear the string pop on one of Marks runs/breaks . What is amazing is that Mark never misses a lick. He is , by far " The musician of Our Times"

[@KCBarr1]

+Drbarry Burns Not to mention, he could play this composition, all instruments, by himself although I have never heard him play bass, I have every reason to believe he likely can.

[@winkcrittenden6011]

He did not break a string. You can count all 6 strings on the guitar after he is finished.

[@avan2208]

For sure, I think those where perhaps a new set of strings, and when he bent the string up, I believe it just slipped or popped down. New strings tend to do that. I could be wrong tho ^^ He is seen tuning a few seconds after that so that is just my guess.

[@brianpatterson7332]

he didn't break the string but it went slack. So for a few bars he improvised without that string, then - still in the middle of his guitar solo - he retuned it in 2-3 seconds, without having any chance to listen to how it sounded, and continued with his solo. For a guy in his teens to do that, in a really complex tune, and still produce an incredible solo, is phenomenal.

[@stevesummers5775]

O'Connor is amazing here, and the way I heard it he was covering for Tony Rice, who shut his hand in a car door or some such thing and couldn't do the tour. Mark learned all of this material in about six weeks, something like that . . .

[@JewandGreek]

The way I heard it Tony quit when Grisman arranged to tour with Stephane Grappelli, saying "I joined to play dawg music, not Sweet Georgia Brown". Grisman turned to Mark to play guitar during the tour and they recorded an album together (Quintet '80) before Mark moved on to pursue a career as a studio fiddler in Nashville. At that point Mike Marshall became the guitarist and they just played as a quartet. I don't think Tony ever rejoined the band.

[@stevethompson6130]

I saw them 1980 at the Santa Cruz County Fair....mind blowing! I'll never forget Mike Marshall's "Gator Strut". Little did I know that my mom's cousin Jimmy Patterson ( a local guitar builder in SCrz) was friends with Darol Anger. He met Darol when he was building mandolins and violins with David Morse. My biggest regret in life was not taking the time to meet my 2nd cousin Jimmy, when I was young and just staring out on building bass guitars. I could have been exposed to a greater world of acoustic instrument builders and the the wonderful musicians they worked for.

[@sebuteo]

I love these guys, and I love Dawg music... sooo groovy

[@stevesummers5775]

This was quite an conglomeration of talent. All of these guys are world class, and it's cool to see them so young. These guys were phenomenal back then and they've just gotten better over the years. But the excitement of DAWG music back then was just something that doesn't come along every day.

[@nancychace8619]

Great show - thanks for sharing.

[@brucefulper4204]

jesus. I'm a good 70 yr old guitar player and these guys just tore my socks off

[@Oakheart]

38 years, oh my, much love to you guys.

[@roygarrett1663]

I saw this incarnation of DGQ along with the New Grass Revival in Denver in 1979 or 80. Best concert I've ever been to.

[@Rubberman991]

FWIW, Grisman has played my mandolin, and thought it was a fine instrument! :-)

[@jingo1010]

Mark O'cornnor's play is amazing. So cool!!

[@davidlowney634]

One of the greatest videos on youtube

[@leehuntington6689]

I saw that lineup in Arcata, CA, in 1980 the night after John Lennon was killed.They played an instrumental "Because" that left not a dry eye in the house.

[@nancychace8619]

I was hitchhiking down the coast and had gotten a ride with a trucker the night John Lennin was killed. The news came over the radio as we were driving. I saw the reaction, total shock, of everybody at every truck stop between Portland and San Francisco. It was nothing but silence at every truck stop.

[@timothymarkonis3630]

This has been one of my all-time favorite historic ear worms for forty-some years now... and still is!

[@namcat53]

Those Grisman shows at Kuumbwa, The Back Room, Great American Music Hall. Absolutely F------ amazing...and we let them know it. O.K...we missed Django etc. in Paris, but we got to see THESE GUYS! So there! Heroes!

[@orbodman]

That run of triplets at 7:14, 7:15 is just amazing

[@andrewrobin5969]

Respect…

[@RealBobLoblaw]

I saw this band back in 79 in Edmonton Ab , I'm still in awe!

[@pstick9934]

Saw them in 78 , riveting show.

[@pharmocist13]

I AGREE WITH BIG MUDDY, UNLESS YOU ARE A PICKER, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TALENT OF MARK O'CONNOR HE IS AMAZING...i WAS FORTUNATE TO MEET HIM 35 YRS AGO, HIS ABILITY AND TALENT IS NEVER ENDING.....

[@morefiction3264]

I wish I'd known more of these guys back then.

[@tk33wave]

absolutely inspiring, still have the vinyls from that time, great music, it is so good to see it.

[@happygecko7389]

ran across a video with the whole show including burns, moore, gimble.... searching for it now but can not find it....tough to introduce my friends to works of my idols when works of my idols are not findable

[@daltonyerby6972]

Absolutely incredible!

[@MsLovemusic59]

I used to go see these guys in San Fran and Santa Cruz whenever they were in town. So amazing. One time Darol and Mike had a fiddle off and the bow hairs were breaking all over the place

[@Trollificusv2]

Nice to know where this came from. I had an mp3 but didn't know the lineup other than Grisman. Wonderful stuff...so much bluegrass, Django, hyperspeed space trance, just indescribable...

[@bigmuddy1]

The ball end of Mark's string was hung on the bottom of the pin, it comes off with a bang but doesn't come out, just a lot of slack. My hat is off to Mark for tuning on fly, on stage in the middle of a song, right to pitch. I saw a tip from Frank Ford if I remember correctly. Take a file and cut the tip of your pins on a slight angle toward the neck and that will prevent this from happening.

[@pharmocist13]

+bigmuddy1 Thanks Big Muddy1. I did not know that. You are a very wise musician. I appreciate all your comments !!!

[@nancychace8619]

This was so good had to listen to it again! Lol- heard that string snap right when I was pouring some coffee. Go figure! Didn't catch that the first time 🙂 Superb performance - thanks for sharing.

[@daves.9479]

They were all so young..........

[@belascialoja4812]

Mark O'Connor is 18 and playing the awesome Somogyi guitar - and at the 7:38 point, you can HEAR a string snap: it either breaks or pulls out of the bridge. Some say he broke a string and fixed it in 3 seconds!!! Hmm. Mark's a genius, but I wonder about this. If it BROKE, he'd have to repair or replace it - no? How could one break a string and quickly fix it AND re-tune it - in 3 seconds? The other strings - esp. low E and A, would also be somewhat out of tune, but close is okay in a band sometimes. Whachall think? It's a masterful thing he does - whatever he does!

[@bobjackson3735]

Béla Scialoja what are you talking about? i heard no string break, he is still playing with all six...

[@mattresscop]

He didn't break a string - it popped (suddenly slacked) from under the bridge pin (6:38). Can happen if the string ball gets caught funnily in the pin slot while stringing. He plays without his high E string until 7:01, where he turns around and brings it up to pitch. Amazingly quickly, I might add.

[@m1a1garand59]

I have seen guys change strings so FN fast like that it was like DID I JUST SEE THAT? With no break in the tune, Just bam slam and the band played on.

[@frankdiscussion2069]

If he'd been playing a Martin that would never happen.

[@georgiabluesman]

@@mattresscop That makes sense. The strings were likely newly installed for this performance, and a new string can definitely slip from under the pin, especially with the kind of force that Mark applies. Thanks.

[@castaneasounds]

Phenomenal guitar playing, Mark. So many of the videos I've seen of you are through a pickup and it's a treat to hear it so natural sounding. Quite a band too in an awesome era. I wish young Mike Marshall was given some more room, but all in due time ;)

[@paul29671]

I wish ACL would start airing reruns of their shows straight from the beginning....

[@namcat53]

I know. Why wait until we're all dead? I'll buy a blu ray compilation and I'll bet I'm not alone.

[@Gunblastdotcom]

By far, my favorite incarnation of the DGQ.

[@snotpu]

This is great, but I am partial to the group with Tony Rice

[@timothymarkonis3630]

That's sorta' like asking who your favorite child is. Fortunately, I don't feel compelled to even wanna make that choice. But, much as I love Darol Anger's fiddle playing, I AM glad that I once got to see them perform live when Stefan Grappelli was included in that lineup.

[@donnlarossa9173]

NEVER TIRE of EXCELLENCE!

[@syalutsa]

I had the great good fortune to work in Arch Street Studios with Darol Anger and Bill Amatneek who both played on a string arrangement I wrote for Great Love of My Life recorded for Kate Wolf’s album Safe at Anchor. Darol played cello for that. Wonderful memory. I do agree he is amazing. Bill was also an inspiration. He took the bass part I had written, looked at it, and said, “that’s not a bass part” then took it away and rewrote it, simplifying it, making it perfect. Wow.

[@nickmarble7226]

syalutsa wow

[@zacharykingston1046]

Never knew Mark could play like Tony rice my fav guitar player of all time..saw grips at philly folkfest...best show that year maybe ever..

[@Cliffolaus]

Zachary, if you're not familiar with it already, you really NEED to get a copy of "Markology"!!!!! This has been one of my very favorite Flat picking albums of all time and always will be!!!! He recorded that when he was, I believe, 18 yrs. old and it is still one of the very best albums I have ever heard!!

[@chaseburley-smith3823]

Cliff Roberts I believe he was only 14!

[@HouseOfThe8Strings]

This video brought to you as a reminder of why DAWG is the BOSS

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Sounds like the string popped up from the bridge, or just from the tuner somehow. I love Mark's guitar playing, always have. Most of all, though, I love his sense of rhythm and chord voicings.

[@Trollificusv2]

As wonderful as he is as a violinist, and other instruments, I've always admired his guitar playing more than anything else he's done. There are a million wonderful guitar players, but his ear is just magic, pure, pure music.

[@reallyreallyfreemusic]

I saw Grisman and his group in a small theatre in Santa Barbara, CA circa 1985. Darol Anger on violin, and I'm pretty sure it was Tony Rice on guitar. David had a drummer (!) and it was Hal Blaine(!!). David started the show by coming out on stage alone and saying "I guess you heard I dropped the music schtick. I'm a stand-up comedian now." Great show, second row center.

[@kirilgeorgiev8401]

Amazing!!!

[@m1a1garand59]

I was watching a home video about Jerry and david just noodling around before cutting maybe their first album and David mentioned this dude who was 18 at the time he met him MARK O'CONNOR To whom I think was on Guitar here no? he was FN good! David said he could play just about anything...He was a prodigy and man I wish after some 50 years of playing I was even 1/16 as good as this dude, However my playing came with no formal training and learning by listening. Sich the age of 6 it was Paul simon, Roy Clark, Then the DEAD! I can play just about any tune the dead ever did and like Old & in the way..Also a great influence as a child was HANK WILLIAMS To whom my father was a fan of and I think had a huge influence on my own writing and style of playing. Hanging out at the ALBERT HALL In south Jersey singing a Hank tune I caught the attention of a women from "COUNTRY TIME MAGAZINE" It was my voice she was impressed with and said damn! Can I get your photo and do a write up on you? Yea what the hell...I was with ZEKE NAGY Who was about 80 at the time. I gotta tell yea I did a lot of very good LSD back then so I played with a ton of bands but mostly on drums. Why am I spouting off about myself to people who don't know me and never will? I have no idea. The fact is there are so many talented people out there who could play around people like JOHN MAYER And why Bob picked him to play with a band that was some 30 years in the gold before JERRY'S Passing makes me sick. He is an ego testicle no soul POS...Like David said about Mark O'conor, He's not on any trip! Which means no ego, No I'm better than you are, He just liked to play and is very good at it. AH..Way to much long winded shit but sometimes I just need to say what I gotta say. Peace.

[@kevinroach8580]

unreal,wow.fantastic!!!!

[@marcusholden6082]

go for it darol

[@ScottyWig]

Superior music, I LOVE THIS.

[@pstick9934]

One of the best musicians in the world

[@JimPlattes]

Great guitarist. They're all virtuoso players.

[@Sibirjachka1]

Great music and performance!!! Thanks a lot!!!!Warm greetings from Russia!!!!

[@RUNNOFT71]

Lord this is incredible. Everyone was amazing but I loved Mark's lead and ESPECIALLY his rhythm playing. Holy crap!

[@namcat53]

To be 20+ then and watching them all evolve was amazing. Seeing a version of them with Stephane Grappelli in the Bay Area then was jazz heaven. Who else was doing this then? Maybe some Django type groups in Europe, but these guys took it to an undeniably very high level of musicianship and experimentation. They come, they go and you learn to catch them when you can. Luckily now, videos are available and instant, so pick up on it. Most of these guys are still around and they all get my thanks for blowing us away.

[@saltwatersoulproject4900]

Wonderful

[@philturner6642]

Mark was a natural from day one.

[@greekflatpicker]

Thanks for sharing this excellent video along with the in depth description regarding the Somogyi guitar and all details too. Greetings from Greece, Y.

[@ericbrittain3370]

Hi Mark , I was hired to play intermission music for a fiddle contest in Salinas back in the 70s . Was back stage when Darrol creeped in behind me and asked to play my fiddle . I sad sure , then asked if I could play his . As we were fiddling around a woman walked in and said they needed fiddle players on stage to play for some cloggers . Both me and darrol said sure . We both walked on stage and standing there was Tiny Moore by himself . Some how the tune Soldiers joy came up . As we passed leads back and forth of Jazz improve variations with intermittent trad versions of the song You slowly walked on stage from behind and started backing us up on rhythm guitar . I was in a music store two months earlier and Brought home a record called fiddlesticks . A month before that I had a dream that I was on stage playing “soldiers joy” with Darrol and Tiny . Fast forward to Salinas and there I was playing the same song that was on the album that was in my dream . True story !

[@davevogt4918]

Pretty slick boys!

[@Fiddlemama]

Truly amazing!!! If you look at my profile pic, that is Darol Anger over my left shoulder, I am wearing the pink top. This pic was taken last year at the Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering. Love how Mark made do and recovered at 6:37!!! The story behind all that was wonderful. I love reading all that kind of stuff. I noticed something was up, but did not clue in. Thanks for including the explanation :)

[@mwblake]

great stuff.

[@SiGmund63]

Yep

[@jimwoods5785]

Fantastic video. Love the music.

[@goodwintrent2989]

Five absolute masters at work - beautiful and amazing!

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

This video is worthwhile simply for Darol Anger's 'fro!

[@Plshipme]

Groups like the Punch Brothers are mearly standing on the shoulders of these giants. If not for Grisman there would be no Punch Brothers.

[@Pete-z6e]

Jazz McDobro ,merely.

[@VinnieVan]

Holy Moly!! 👍🏼👍🏼💪🏼🙏🏼🔥❤️

[@ericlarson8158]

Love this video. G'damn!

[@gutbucket260]

Didn't even recognize Mike Marshall. This goes way back.

[@simsnathan64]

Probably the most tasteful and unique use of the fiddle I've ever heard. Don't know his name, hit me with a comment if you do know. Just got introduced to Grisman last week through a coworker. I cant get enough.

[@MichaelMarkGuitar]

It's Darol Anger. He teaches fiddle on ArtistWorks as well!

[@robertmizek3315]

Love it!

[@RobertHill-y7u]

David!! What happened to you! I was introduced to you in 1979, my son, Jordan, plays like you! Well, maybe not quite like you, but, CLOSE!! Bummer! Play like you used to! You are star! Is that Toni Rice on guitar?

[@mariansadowski2878]

Dawg ❤

[@OldFingerpickguitar]

Thanks for posting this. I didn't know that Mark O'Connor played guitar. Cool tune and great players!

[@reid2hai]

He doesn't play anymore, but he was a great guitarist back then.

[@tylermcconnell4376]

Check out Strength in Numbers - Telluride Sessions

[@joezeke6107]

Oh, yeah. Strength In Numbers!! Incredible!! Mark played guitar with Stephane Grapelli's quartet also. One day Stephane found out he played fiddle. The story goes Stephane's eyes lit up, and when he heard Mark play fiddle, he included him in the act on fiddle duets! I got to see the Grisman Quintet with the Grapelli quartet in concert once. The feeling must've been what it's like being on drugs...I couldn't feel the ground under my feet when I left!! And I was cold sober!! BTW, Mark plays mandolin, also!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Ed Taublieb Not only does Mark play guitar in addition to still being the youngest national champion fiddle player when he was 14 years old a record he's held for over 40 years. The year after he won the fiddle championship he became the youngest person to win the national guitar players championship. To top that off mandolin may be his best instrument. Plus I saw him kicking ass on the upright double bass about a month ago. He and Larry Campbell are the greatest multi stringed instrument players I've ever heard.

[@Trollificusv2]

Maybe it wouldn't have held up if he'd continued playing it, but he might be my favorite guitar player ever. No matter how great a degree of virtuosity he's displaying, he never loses me, never loses the musicality, just raises the complexity and beauty. (and I know a LOT of wonderful guitar players)

[@caseylooper6634]

Fuck man if I could just get my hair like Mike's dude

[@93mshep]

WOW!!!!

[@matthooper5059]

That one lick at 7:19-7:22 Bryan Sutton used a bit on the 30 year retrospective that Mark had him record on. OH man.......Good history here...I forget which track but I'm sure I'm gonna look it up, lol.

[@climbtosafety4730]

This is 🤯

[@jeloeb]

Seems like one of Dawg’s requirements is that you have to have curly hair to be in the band. I would have fit right in, well except that I was not a virtuoso.

[@gutbucket260]

Same here. till it all fell out.

[@snotpu]

Seems like one of KZbin's requirements is there must be inpertinent comments that have nothing to do with what this video is about.

[@jeloeb]

@@snotpu yes, and you nailed it. Well done!

[@mikemcginn4232]

around 7:22 you can clearly see he still has his B string, and E string... I think he was just tuning real quick mid solo, I don't see a string break at all. incredible musician!

[@joshuazeledon5436]

string pops, it doesn't break but comes out of tune that's for sure

[@Rubberman991]

The string didn't break - the pin popped out. I presume he was able to re-seat it, in which case it should still be "mostly" in tune. I've been playing stringed instruments for 60 years (violin, guitar, mandolin) so I know that this is possible. At most he would only need a little "tweak" to set it back to proper tuning, and that may have not been necessary. My main current instrument (I play bluegrass these days), is a 1904 Gibson mandolin. My fiddle is on loan to a promising young musician.

[@bobthabuilda1525]

How did the promising musician turn out?

[@snotpu]

If the pin popped out, I think it is very difficult to force it back in without loosening the string some. But I'd imagine a pro like Mark O'Connor can manage that pretty quickly. I had also wondered if the end of the string had not been fully pulled against the bottom of the pin, and finally did so as Mark was playing. That would have been a little quicker to fix.

[@whiskeyburlap]

Wow!

[@anniep.5681]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@bigsby1]

Never mind that Mark O'Connor was 19 here. Unbelievable.

[@АндрейГорбатов-ы5с]

Grate!!!!