I know Rama would say that I am ‘Arbo-esque’ in my playing style, but I really want to know if I am traditionally ‘style-challenged?’
Arbo
Well, from what I’ve seen/heard before, you’re not even trying to sound traditional (I presume), so you can’t be style-challenged in a style you’re not after, I’d say 
Ouch!
Well, you’re not doing any violence to the tradition.
It’s a very good thing to sound like yourself. I think
you’re fortunate, truly. So many people sound like
everybody else. Nobody who hears your recordings
would think you don’t love the music, that you
are unfaithful to it, that you aren’t deep inside
the tune.
You know, there’s a saying:
When I die and go to heaven, God won’t ask me,
‘Why weren’t you Matt Molloy?’ He’ll ask me:
Why weren’t you Jim Stone?’
What do you want, anyway? You’re lucky.
It’s OK to be yourself.
I hope you won’t waste any time worrying about this.
Arbo, for the love of Murgatroyd, don’t worry so much! Buck the Fegrudgers.
R
You seem to spend an awful lot of time worrying about what others think.
Have you a particular style in mind?
You might want to pick one and study it if that is what you are after.
Just play man… just play.
I admit I love to be shocking, but you’re definitely not trying to sound ‘tradiotional’ in the geezer sense, I think you’re aiming for a more kind of modern style. I don’t think I’d be insulting McGoldrick if I said he’s not into that pure drop traditional style either, I’m sure he knows it and this is what defines him. I’m not into modern stuff, but it’s just a matter of taste.
Really, that’s a saying? Be sure to mention the trousers! 
Thank heavens for the Canadians; who else would there be to guard the Sacred Tradition? Keep up the vigil, eh.
Rob
Azalin,
I guess I do worry some about the perceptions of others, as it seems to come up from time to time. I play the music as it grabs me. I hear it in my head a certain way and try to do a tune justice by how it feels to me. I don’t claim to be a particular type of player, nor do I try i to imitate the playing of others. I suppose, in the end, what I want to know is if I am doing justice to the tunes themselves.
Thank you Jim, for acknowledging the fact that I may indeed be on the verge of having my own ‘style.’ I suppose that is what it is all about, really. Finding one’s own voice in the sea of stylistic interpretations of the the music is a great challenge. I mean no disrespect to the music. I suppose I just wanted to know if I had any loose association with any of the traditional styles. According to Azalin, I don’t. I would imagine that might be a good thing, save the fact that I assume I am playing traditional Irish music.
Arbo
Is there anywhere in my post where I am preaching the ‘tradition’, and saying it’s the right way to play? I just said I wasn’t really into modern stuff, but that other styles are fine. I am not “guarding” anything, as you seem to imply. It’s funny how people react when they read the word ‘traditional’, they often bring up that old debate again.
Praise the lord, and pass the back-bacon.
R
I never said you were not traditional at all, just not into the ‘pure drop’ as some would call it. Going back to McGoldrick, he’s a very modern player, but one thing is certain, he doesn’t disrespect the tradition because I am sure he’s learned a lot from the old timers and older styles, he must know and have met many of them, and I’m sure in a session he can go back to that older sound if he wants to.
But anyway, it’s just a matter of interpretation, and what we call traditional or not and what you compare it too. So, do you sound traditional? Well, the answer is easy: yes and no!
You really don’t sound any worse than most people here. You worry too much. Just play the music and enjoy yourself.
ARBO, You are GIFTED!
BE PROUD!
I am grateful for the music you’re sharing with us!
Thank You!
Silly,
thank you very much! I appreciate that. since no one has come up with a ‘style’ I might be associated with, I guess my initial query remains unanswered.
I like the Arbo style.
It’s sad to see how some good threads about style and phrasing, with serious potential, turn into a sterilized support group. 
For most of the great players out there, failure was an option when they were learning, and they failed often, and worked hard, to achieve what they wanted to sound like. Why are people so afraid of the possibility of failure in the short term? Also, what’s the purpose of such thread if only one answer will be accepted? Maybe we should create a new forum called “Please tell me you love me” and you can all tell each other how great you are…
those who set out to copy another’s style fail doubly
first, no one can perfectly copy another
second, they betray their own unique creativity
that is not to suggest that a musician may not end up being labelled as belonging to one traditional style or another (if not a new one). however that will be more an incidental result than one deliberately grasped at
(warning: this post contains no caps)
Hmm this sounds familiar… I’ve had other say “you don’t sound like an Irish Flute player”. I grew up on on Long Island, played drums in a rock band, Flute in school, never listened to Irish music. still don’t …learned session tunes out of Books and at sessions…also played Fife in aF& D Corp.
So, I’d have to ask why would I sound like an Irish Flute Player with a lot of vibrato? It would be like your channeling an Irish Flute Player.. No trouble playing the tunes but I just sound like an American Flute Player, little vibrato and offering no apologies… so for all those Players who have have people tell them they don’t have a Traditional style, ask why would I, Ive got an American style!..every bit as good!
Ben Shaffer