Hi, as regulators have been brought up, I was wondering if there are any notable players that stand out in anyone’s mind that would serve as a noteworthy example of excellent performance using the regulators?
Brian MacNamara, IMHO, has the best touch with the regs that I have heard to date.
This has been hashed out before, but I’ll put my neck on the block again…Seamus Ennis. Neil Mulligan. I’ll leave it to everyone else and their brother to say Ronan Browne.
I’ll second the vote for Brain McNamara, just listened to his “Fort of the Jewels” CD for the first time, and am mystified. Tommy Martin, Paddy Keenan (listen to his earlier albums for some very tasteful and awesome reg playing), and Mikie Smyth are those I’ve heard that are very talented on the regs.
Toss up between Mikie Smythe at the top of the heap and Seamus, Brian et al. IMHO, Mikie is an amazing regulator player.
Our own David Power is no reg slouch either - particularly to hear him live.
Ronan Browne blows them all away for regs. Mind you, in spite of all the “less is more” stuff from Ennis, I can hear Ronan’s reg style coming directly from Ennis plus a bit of Clancy. Mikie Smith has a very careful and measured style to his reg playing, which is a change and good to listen to. Brian McNamara is also a pleasant listen.
djm
I’m a big fan of The Chieftains, with that sad, Paddy Moloney is probably the main one for inspiring me to learn the Uilleann pipes. Although, I’ve never heard any of Seamus Ennis until recently, and he’s quite the piper. Anyways, my point is, I’ve never heard Paddy use his regulators on any of the Chieftain’s albums I have. I have about 11. I think he uses his regs on an album called The Drones & The Chanters, but that’s about it. To my knowledge. I don’t know, I just thought it was interesting that he doesn’t use his regulators much. To be honest, in my opinion, I don’t care much for the sound of the regs. I’d be more than happy with just the drones. Enuff said,
Eric
Well, I just listened to A track on Chieftain’s 7 called ‘The Ace and Deuce of Pipering.’ And near the beginning, it appears as those there are his regs being played. But I’m not sure…
Johnny and Felix Doran
Ben Walker’s pretty nifty on them regs, particularly as he now has an extra one, check out some of his clips 'n snips postings 
I’ve had the priveledge of watching him live and close up as he was my teacher for sometime. 
In addition, I like Liam O’Flynn’s style
Agreed. It was a pleasure and an education watching and listening to David explain and demonstrate use of the regs. Thanks David! 
Benedict Koehler is a brilliant regulator player.
Apart from those mentioned, check out Paddy Keenan, on his first album (Paddy Keenan) does some nifty regulator playing. Also PK on Poirt an Phiobaire, but not as good as on the first album IMHO.
And his solo tracks on Doublin. Beautiful reg playing there on “The Bunch of Keys” and “Roisin Dubh”.
Tommy Kearney makes a brilliant use of regs
Anyone, I don’t care who they are, who pays too much attention to playing the regulators is not paying enough attention to their chanter work.
There is a balance to be struck.
tim britton
I’m asking because I want to listen to regulator work for my own educational purposes.
for inventiveness and musicality – Ronan Browne, Mick O’Brien, Paddy Keenan
for not overdoing it and always getting it right – Seamus Ennis, Liam óg O’Flynn, David Power, N. Mulligan, Brian MacNamara - I’m sure there are others.
he’s inventive, sort of, but unfortunately inevitably overdoes the repeated chord – Mikie Smyth – if he did it on his car horn he’d be arrested for road rage. (regulator rage?)
btw, I don’t think you could accuse Ronan Browne of ‘not paying enough attention to his chanter work’