The Greatest Improv Mandolin Solo Ever: Chris Thile w. Mark O'Connor

Mark O'Connor's "In the Cluster Blues" with Chris Thile, Frank Vignola, Bryan Sutton and Byron House
/ markoconnor
Chris Thile met Mark O'Connor for the first time when Chris was 12 at the NAMM Show in L.A. Several years later Mark coincidentally moved to San Diego where Chris grew up just as Chris was moving to Nashville where Mark had spent the last 15 years blazing a new trail for acoustic musicians to follow there. In the summer of 2006 both Mark and Chris moved to New York City and ran into each other at a bluegrass jam at a bar in Greenwich Village just weeks after arriving. Both men were happy to see each other, moving to the same city on the exact same month was once again a nice coincidence.
Chris had already recorded on Mark's "Thirty-Year Retrospective," a ground breaking album project recorded in Nashville at Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt with fellow bluegrass virtuosos Bryan Sutton and Byron House on bass. One of the festivals they decided to book together to promote the recording was "Rocky Grass" in Colorado. 'In the Cluster Blues' was performed and captured on recording for their "Jam Session" CD at this festival. Both Mark, Chris along with some of their acoustic musician friends from Mark's Hot Swing group explored the stratosphere of the acoustic modern blues as far as any musicians have gone on their instruments.
Mark says that "Chris Thile is the greatest mandolin player in history. I should know, because I know first hand how hard it is to do it. To me, he has recorded the greatest slow-tempo mandolin improvised solo on record; 'One Winter's Night,' and he has recorded the greatest mandolin solo of all time on this version of 'In the Cluster Blues' - the one on this video!"
'One Winter's Night' featuring Mark and Chris can be on Mark's hit holiday CD "An Appalachian Christmas." 'In The Cluster Blues' can be heard on their recording "Jam Session." Both on OMAC Records.
MOC Enterprises, Shore Fire Media
Video by Fiona Zwieb
www.markoconnor.com
#!/markoconnor35
/ markoconnorfanpage
www.oconnormethod.com/

[@GaFatBoy300]

The best thing about having an open mind to music is that you won't miss those moments in life when you hear something that changes something in you as a human being. I have always loved most all kinds of music. Jazz, Blue , classical, rap, hip hop, rock and even some pop and country. I just love music.

[@kevinmoyer6224]

Here in 2021. Your comment holds true 👍

[@Figurethat111]

This could just as easily be a tribute to Mark O’Conner.

[@jeffd8597]

It’s not just blues, it’s jazz. He plays not just mandolin licks, it’s true melodic jazz improv. That’s why it’s so good. It transcends the instrument. So does MOC and the rest of the band.

[@yusufnoel569]

I know Im kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to watch newly released movies online?

[@yusufnoel569]

@Keanu Baker Thanks, signed up and it seems to work =) I really appreciate it!

[@keanubaker7421]

@Yusuf Noel Glad I could help =)

[@worldnotworld]

It's not jazz either. It's past jazz.

[@Mandolin_Matt]

Definitely an amazing solo and definitely some awesome jazz! However, I wouldn’t say it transcends the instrument - the mandolin has all those strings and frets and notes there same as a guitar, bass, violin, etc. Chris just knows exactly what it can do!

[@stevenhearrell1564]

Both pickers are my favorite on the featured instruments. In addition, Mark's flatpicking is stellar. It seems to me that he owns the guitar, in a musical sense, as much as he owns the violin. Each player has worked very hard to get where they are. Hats off to both.

[@andrewcalton9751]

Two of the best at what they do. There isnt anyone better right now and might not ever be. Unbelievable music. Thanks mark

[@austenrobinson2747]

Both of these two have improv skills not of this world. Both legendary players. This is 10 plus minutes of sick blues playing and an honor to be alive to hear it.

[@Robin18us]

Thile is the best of the best as is Mark O'Connor.

[@jacklandismusic]

God, this is ridiculous. Both of them are so incredibly intelligent when it comes to music, so they can just go ham and still be entirely on point. Real well done!

[@tuowele]

You make my day Mark, your playing made me love violin. Just incredible phrasing.

[@Markndannsue]

Wish there was some video of this. Two of my favorite players.

[@Broziff13]

They all are of the freaking hook... Chris and his amazing mandolin, that violin...woah... just wowsers galore. I'm in awe, and loving it.

[@mrdoodiehead1642]

This is one of those magical moments that if you hear it, you're one of the Very Lucky ones! Thanks to all of you that made it possible for all of us to drink this in!

[@Gangotri108]

One of the most incredible pieces I've ever heard.

[@pologoalie8]

Very Thile of him. he somehow can make one mandolin sound like 2 and sometimes 3. He even keeps improving which is nuts to even contemplate

[@Sibirjachka1]

Wonderful music!!! Great performance!!!! Thank you very much!!!!

[@jsky21]

You are wonderful in both concert of your own composition and now I find your "Blues". My dad played both the mandolin and banjo. It has been a long time since I heard a mandolin.

[@reservestig]

I have no words, just wonderful 👌😍

[@RNWard1954]

Just needed a Chris Thile / Punch bro's fix and came across this. THANK YOU.....made my day.....straight to favourites !

[@TheFoggyHollows]

Absolutely fantastic. Dude is a monster. Maybe one day I'll get to that level!

[@paddyfitzgerald3764]

You getting there yet?

[@RenaGoichberg]

Fantastic! Love it!!

[@PeacemongerJerry]

YES! THANK YOU!

[@GaryLPuckett]

Yep. This is indeed the best mando improv ever. Maybe somewhere in the ether a Apollon or Jethro Burns solo is still floating around. But if I had to pick one, this is it. Oh yeah....Mark's solo after Chris' was just as incredible. Brilliant pacing.

[@fridaymiles]

Rare to find a video that handily lives up to it's extravagant title. Mindblowing.

[@putinkhuylo]

This is what happens when the music gods all smile at once. 😱🙏⚡

[@polonaise88]

Just wonderful Its play beyond my expression

[@Rialas]

Both on another planet. Fab.

[@Gbriel1234567890]

Beautiful !

[@AmosTheTalented]

Damn! That was savage!

[@fostersflint9005]

Dayum! that is shredding that mando!

[@TennesseeToddy92]

Completely speachless!

[@docwallacemusic]

Amazing!

[@lizanncrabtree]

He is so good it ain't even right.

[@loribernard5356]

WOW, WOW, WOW....AGAIN.... CHRIS THILE....UNREAL....

[@markoconnor]

This is just sick! Thile demolishes the mandolin in this blues solo - as does MOC. O'Connor KZbin Channel

[@brainrussell6811]

Damn straight... and that fiddle solo just about had me hurling a world of hurt!

[@SuperThejim]

People can debate all day about who is the world's best guitarist; who has done more for guitar playing than anyone else? There are many answers for many reasons. But Chris Thile has a monopoly on the mandolin and Mark O'Connor has a monopoly on the fiddle. Any genre, any contender, any damn day! They are the only musicians to completely lock down their instruments, and they will be forever untouchable.

[@mikemccoy3430]

Imma have to throw Jerry Douglas in that category.

[@fishelbresler9418]

@@SuperThejim Please, please, please people STOP making it a contest! There are a number of top, really creative, beyond-category players. It - is - not - a - contest!!

[@musiclover9361]

That is some ungodly playing! Stunning virtuosity.

[@alanchristopher2024]

Well, just spent one of the absolute BEST 10 minute chunks of time in my almost 73 years here on this planet, and I'll spend the next 47 days trying not to SCREAM because there is apparently no actual video of what I just heard?? But if there may be one I just haven't found yet, please pass that along in a reply, thanks!! Other than that, I'm pretty much speechless...

[@dlswint]

Yeah, that's how it's done. Such greatness on fiddle and mandolin. This guitar player has a lot of catching up to do.

[@UUpianoman]

Trying to play catch up only leads to disappointment. Just be you, and the world will smile with you.

[@higheststandards3344]

@@UUpianoman who said that?

[@UUpianoman]

@@higheststandards3344 just an old pianist who has learned (finally!!) not to torture himself with comparisons to others

[@yuk0ncornelius]

Next time I see Chris play live...I'm shouting this out as a request.

[@chaslaurie]

Wow. Just wow!

[@ocdhopebmh]

Maybe the greatest blues solos by the two greatest instrumentalists alive on their respective instruments

[@manrom2101]

Every Thile solo is the best mandolin solo ever

[@tonysloan]

It simply doesn't get any tastier than this!

[@agalligani]

Chris Thile is amazing.

[@kflangan]

Last year at the World of Bluegrass show in Raleigh, NC, Chris T was walking up to Poole's diner, I sure wish I could have had a drink with him. Come to Raleigh this year if you can.

[@ridovem]

Chris has listened to some Thelonious Monk, methinks... and it has made an impression. ^..^

[@iamdanbones]

Funny, the title coming from Mark O'Connor...that is like the Sun saying dang it's hot today. Thanks Mark and thanks Chris...see you at Grey Fox this summer?

[@lawrencetanner7958]

Phenomenabominabdomeable!!!! You have to make up words....

[@ShowCat1]

World class all-time greats.

[@peterhodson9521]

I watched only want to see again

[@DavidHaile_profile]

Sheesh! I 100% agree about it being a fantastic mandolin solo! It is really, really difficult to objectively tell someone the difference between noodling and really saying something with a solo, but I put this one in the latter category.

[@pharmocist13]

It so funny , LOL.Tony and I are listening to the same music . While, Chet Atkins is looking like someone ran over his puppy dog....There will never be another Mark O or a Tony R. Or a Jerry D. We are so fortunate to be on this earth and grew up listening and watching them all.....Thanks, Tony

[@pologoalie8]

But there is a Bryan Sutton and now Molly Tuttle who is an amazing musician. Check out her new album Rise!

[@hkhjg1734]

Drbarry Burns nah, this guys got nothing on chet

[@ScottyWig]

I'm trying to play my mandolin more, it's a really nice one, , , so Lord please inpart just a little little tiny bit of the gift you've bestowed on this fellow Chris Thile, , , alas I can barely make a "C" chord sound nice.

[@velvetunderpants44]

Sorry, but I could not agree less. Mark O'Connor is a master technician. Plays very fast and very well. But not with a lot of feeling. Chris Thile plays like his musical subconscious is directly connected to his mandolin. He can also play pretty fast.

[@JdubU]

i don't care what you say about the mandolin but that fiddle was dead sexy on the intro!

[@timothywade9982]

The guy is his own style, an innovator for sure

[@moonlitme]

Sweetness.....

[@SandyHookFalseFlagOP]

i think so many people disliked this because they have no imagination and need an actual video to tell them sheep how good it was

[@digging6068]

I believe he channeled a little Stevie Ray for some of that!

[@Aislinnmomma]

You SO need to make an album together!!!

[@markoconnor]

+Aislinnmomma It is here! www.amazon.com/Jam-Session-Mark-OConnor/dp/B0039TD7XQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444859995&sr=8-1&keywords=jam+session%2C+mark+o%27connor

[@Aislinnmomma]

Mark O'Connor Holy moly! How did I not know about this? Thanks so much!

[@joegee1000]

Holy Smoke! Which planet are these guys from........

[@Tracy3006]

I have asked the same question myself a few times. These guys are so far beyond my musical comprehension that I have to wonder. Pretty darn amazing!

[@simeonasmith]

Earth

[@LukeDayInTheUK]

It is sick. I agree.

[@FuchsiasVisor]

Damn! I just got a mandolin for Christmas...not even going to listen to the rest of this. Love it, but I'll come back to it later. Not ready for a beating yet. I'll stick to Bill Monroe for now.

[@johnbaxter524]

When I listen to this (and Monroe), I really feel defeated - have a brand new Mandolin that I've not played ... ever ... listen to Chris Thile, and wonder "What's the use!" ... what a great sound (both him and the Mandolin)

[@fishelbresler9418]

@@johnbaxter524 Don't ever feel that way. We each do what we can do, and enjoy it for what it is. Start playing! As the great folk singer Odetta once said to me, with great feeling: "It's not a competition!" She had more to say, but that was the gist of it. Play! Play! Neither Bill nor Chris would want to feel that they had discouraged anyone.

[@johnmckindley-ward8070]

Yeah the title doesn't reflect what really going on here, that is, a good solo by Thile but an absolutely sensational solo by O'connor. Both these cats are one of a kind.

[@roninreturns]

Who could have imagined that Jimi Hendrix would be playing the mandolin when he came back? This is simply sick blues right here, I don't even know where to start in describing this, Mark is such the perfect compliment on violin to Chris' mandolin!

[@zoltomar4759]

Chris is one of a kind, but when Mark kicked in I forgot all about him. No disrespect meant of course, both players are incredible.

[@chrisshobert6302]

Yes true Americana . and tradition at its best

[@cohobow]

I wanna hear Thile, Mark, Sutton, and Mr Fleck do a show. Throw in random bad ass stand up bassist

[@ericrichardson6181]

What -Say? "Cluster Blues Clues" I'm down with that kind of pickin!

[@aaronchasemusic]

post this on sound cloud... youtube is for videos!

[@chrisellis63]

Yep .. that bar is set pretty high. For Sure.

[@tuba_player]

Super! Only word SUPER! Супер! Клас!!!

[@dxhydro1]

Damn

[@colin-manyeates-clan5221]

George Winterborn; finally someone that can out discuss a topic... And in the interests of tweeting, - At first without any video to watch in awe of I half listened as I read various posts... and then it hit me ... "This stuff be good" then the more I listened and read more comments I began to hear incredible. No analyzation needed.. it just is, its "F'n Incredible" Reminds me when people used to get around and just do stuff to see what happened and more often than not something really cool would happen and everyone knew it was Creator expressing through us as we could not and would not even attempt to do it again. Steal a few from it for other songs etc oh yea but try to play it like that... can't happen and it is so cool because it is one of life's little miracles which let us know Creator loves to jam... and puts a smile on your face and a deep breath in the company of our Kind and Jammin Creator and so thankful for being there at that moment when it went down. This recording is extra special because it is a recording of one of those moments... unusual in my experience, but then again people have not exactly been real appreciative in pubic before either.... Let's do more and see what happens..

[@MarieMandolin]

He is not even with them..... He is just going wild.

[@CandaceFreeland1028]

How about the greatest improv fiddle solo ever too?

[@thinkerguy4]

Still not surpassed as far as I know.

[@stepitupandgo67]

ooo I was 666 likes....yikes....so good tho....probably cuz I'm a heathen...!!! haha...man...this is kookoo bananas....I'm about halfway through....such incredible improv skills....all of them....wow....love it so much

[@wandamundy1759]

Oh My Goodness !!! That guitarist has a helluva job laying down a rock-solid foundation for the two of you . . . The solos were so far past brilliancy - but that had a job to do . . .

[@danielloeb2044]

Too many notes. "...but then again, there ain't too many folks can play too many notes on the mandolin." -- Chris Thile.

[@TheJALOBE]

I just love it how Chris thile is and knows he is among about 30 people on earth who have the right to say that. He's brilliant and he knows it.

[@margebomar4560]

not too many notes, Chris. You are just great on that mandolin. I haven't heard mandolin for a long time and you make it so that I will listen to you evwry chance I get.

[@margebomar4560]

Also Mark O'Connor on the fiddle. You, too, are great. I come from an entire family who loved to make music and most of the men could play 2 or 3 instruments, or whatever was at hand, so I am a lover of fiddle music, banjo, mandolin, guitar, etc. and good old fashioned country music.

[@freeholdtacticalmed]

Daniel Loeb somebody said that about Mozart...I’m new to Chris and an instant convert!

[@brianpatterson7332]

@@freeholdtacticalmed The "too many notes" remark wasn't a criticism. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3-zk6BjotidkNk

[@mistertaterbug]

Hard to say about John. :)

[@13WillSullivan]

That Violin solo is pretty alright as well. I might even prefer it to Thile's solo in this one which doesn't happen often! Don't get me wrong Thile is consistently amazing but this isn't my favourite solo of his

[@pologoalie8]

agreed!

[@mistertaterbug]

Thanks for the music lesson, BibleWitness. It *is* called improvisation. And, there is also something on earth called humor which my comment was intended to be. You'd have to know the whole story, which you do not. Cheers...

[@peterritchie2990]

Mike Compton Anytime Mike Compton says something, as a longtime huge fan of both him and his music, I listen. Cheers to all from British Columbia.

[@johnaustin1825]

WHAT KEY IS IT?

[@thomasgunter2413]

Great effort, impressive! Not really my taste of music, I kept looking for the dogs to start howling out on the porch, but still an epic piece in its own right!

[@jeffrodemando]

I don't know if the title rings true from my perspective (because he's blown so many leads out of the water and two continents over), its pretty bad-A though, but I think I've probably heard Chris miss about 2 in 700,000 notes; granted he gets pretty abstract sometimes, for the reason of just in case, that he can say... NO UH

[@MrBribass]

😲

[@gibsona9]

Thile - amazing stuff, but I find myself not wanting to listen to his stuff very often. Gimme a Sam Bush solo anyday.

[@KyleHurd]

gibsona9 ok, u can have that then, give me this all day because I appreciate greatness.

[@jysmtl]

Different strokes for different days

[@mistertaterbug]

He's plumb forgot how it went...

[@unclebobunclebob]

Nobody can say anything is ever the greatest thing ever. Sorry.

[@thinkerguy4]

Oh, I think Mark O'Connor has the cred to say it.

[@bobthabuilda1525]

Sure we can. "This is the greatest thing ever." See? Not hard at all.

[@unclebobunclebob]

@@bobthabuilda1525 you can't say that.

[@hamirau705]

1:50

[@andybowen1249]

Bluegrass from outer space lol.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Technique is fantastic. The style is so all over the place. It's like taking every spice and condiment in the cupboard and throwing it all on the bird.

[@larryduoos7243]

WOW!.........match him up with jake s. on uke.............thanks for the turn on, jim

[@GeorgePaulDavisIII]

I might just be getting too old, perhaps, but this seems like the Mark O'Connor show from start to finish. O'Connor belongs to a wave of these folks who basically bleed melodic and harmonic transcendence. This piece is a pretty powerful comparative example of that idea. The new guys are all about speed, technical prowess and tone. The previous generations had those things to the perfect degree, and still managed to create melodic universes that neither wavered into chaos nor stilted into breakneck, robotic pattern. The 70/80's wave, though, pretty much wrapped this whole deal up into the perfect package, and I wish I'd been born early enough to watch it all happen at that time, alas I was born in 1979. I'm not trying to badmouth the new guys, because they are all definitely good. They're just good in a way I don't really jive with -- maybe I don't get it. It's not so much "too many notes," it's just that the notes being played sound more brain and fingers than heart and groove.

[@songsabai3794]

I understand where you are coming from - I usually get a jaw-dropping-stunned-inspiration when hearing/seeing MOC,because his playing really is the absolute pinnacle of technique,tone and phrasing but at the same time I'm yearning for something not so perfect and less brilliant as staring into the sun....something warmer that speaks to heart and soul.

[@GeorgePaulDavisIII]

I think they played modal, but melodic phrases carefully, but viscerally, structured from the root scale and occasionally harmoniously congruent modes relatable to the root scale, with exploration being the driving factor, but harmony and aesthetics being the destination. They didn't, and don't, play a bunch super fast, technically impressive runs that are neither harmonious nor melodically identifiable, which basically sounds like a robot throwing a bunch of notes together at random, but then every now and then play an actual melody that sounds sort of ok. For some reason, this type of music has sort of become a parody of itself. Skill and speed are great, but music is built from melody and harmony with only occasionally drifts into atonality and indistinguishable runs built around rhythm that are often the result of buildup. How difficult what you're playing is, and how little you can hear your pick, are entirely irrelevant factors. There's a robot that can do both better, count on it. No robot could ever improvise thematic melodic phrases that fit the emotional and "cosmic" direction of a tune. That's what music is and that's why Thile is the least impressive dude in the recording.

[@GeorgePaulDavisIII]

And maybe that's harsh or whatever. Fair assesment. I conceded to the idea that I'm too old, at 35, to "get" this style. It just doesn't sound like music, to me. The best young, up-and-coming mandolinist I've heard in the last ten years is this kid Josh Pinkham who plays with the Jeremy Kittle Band. He's not always on point, but when he is it makes you want to play, too. He's still young, but I think he's the only one who will get to be as good, for the right reasons, as the second wavers. He has a pretty solid grasp on melody and structure and he definitely plays with more gut than brain. Thile always sounds exactly the same, regardless of what song, theme, or musical concept he's exploring. When his fans talk about his music, I've never heard them say anything about melodic construction or thematic exploration, it's always just "that was so fast! such tone!" and it feels like a Portlandia parody of the state of this music in the last part of the 90's, early 2000's.

[@GeorgePaulDavisIII]

I'd also clarify that Haley Sabai and I are on two different pages. I think the second wavers have all of those skills, it's just not the centerpiece of their presenation... ya know, 'cause music. But I kid. We just probably enjoy the experience of music for different reasons and I'm not feeling Thile's approach and voiced that opinion.

[@GeorgePaulDavisIII]

Too many arbitrary notes is a better assessment for Thile.

[@akiwayneukonmaanahoa1590]

This is the first time that music has made me feel like my dog just died in front of me. WTF

[@dougyoungjr6745]

Well... I mean, he's not wrong.

[@btlnckr]

Ya think John Moore would be proud?

[@nisseeriksson8306]

Bra

[@akiwayneukonmaanahoa1590]

Bawling

[@forcd2createchannel321]

Although Thile was mind-blowingly amazing I felt Mark O'Connor's solo was more in keeping with a blues song. Both are musical geniuses in the truest sense.I'm actually surprised there aren't more comments about him here. Mark has recorded ground-breaking solos on violin but also mandolin and guitar.

[@MarieMandolin]

There is never anything in art the BEST,,, As it is soon found that something comes up better than what was before as time goes on until it gets so good that it becomes awful....