Blues, Jazz, Rock Violinists?

Dixie Dregs aka the Dregs. The first four albums are the best with "Dregs of the Earth' being my favorite. "California Screamin" is a live disc that has a good version of "Peaches in Regalia" if you like Zappa type violin arrangements. The violin player, Allen Sloan, left the band and became an anethesiologist. They still get together periodically, but their excellent keyboard player T Lavitz passed away last year.Sloan was replaced by Mark O'Connor who has several great cd's out with "heroes" and "Thirty Year Retrospective" as personal favorites. o'Connor's work with Chris Thile is excellent. Jerry Goodman from Mahavishnu Orchestra has also played with the Dregs. The above recommendations are very fine as well. I particularly like Papa John with Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship/Airplane. Jobson's contributions to Roxy Music's "Country Life" are fantastic. Check out the solo in "Out of the Blue."

Jerry Goodman, played with John McLaughlin.
Chris Church, plays with Jesse Cook.

Billy Bang. I recently listened to his Vietnam - The Aftermath CD, after having not listened to it for many years, and it was a good listen.

It's interesting to see all the Grappelli lovers here. I'm sure that this is my own issue, but....

I absolutely LOVE Django, but I have to listen "around" Grappelli to enjoy the music. There's something about his playing that grates on me and detracts from Django's beauty.

Like I said, this is a reflection on me, not Grappelli, but it does drive me nuts.

Marty

PS Ghost, World Party always played live with a fiddler (at least on the ocassions that I saw them). I'd have to go back and listen to the records, but I'm pretty sure that the fiddle parts are there.

Thanks again to everyone who took time to reply. Lots of suggestions to sample. Getting new ideas about music to check out is the best thing about A'gon.

Orpheus - very much enjoyed the Ponty clip on You Tube. I have an LP by him but that video is a little more organic or souful or jazzful or something than what I'd associateed him with previously.

Billy Bang is a new name to me (as are a few others)...more things to check out.

Personal preference leans towards the blues side of the equation. Hope others will check out Charlie Burnham and James Blood Ulmer (e.g., Red House).