Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

ASIN: B000002LKJ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
When bluegrass banjo whiz Bela Fleck formed the Flecktones in 1990 with jazz pianist Howard Levy, funk bassist Victor Wooten, and electronic-drummer Roy Wooten, it seemed like just one more of those new-acoustic music bands that appear and disappear in Nashville with depressing regularity. There was something special about this quartet, though, for it used its peculiar instrumentation not as an end in itself but as a means to three albums of startling melodicism, improvisation, and feeling. At the end of 1992, Levy amicably departed to spend more time with his family and his own music. Rather than hire a new fourth member, Fleck and the Wootens have tried to compensate for his absence by an increased reliance on synthesizer sounds that they can trigger from their instruments and floor pedals. This has led to less emphasis on melody, harmony, and feeling and an increased emphasis on rhythm and showy virtuosity. --Geoffrey Himes

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones,Béla Fleck & The Flecktones,Warner Bros / Wea,Fusion,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Progressive Bluegrass
The Enchantment
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Pushing the boundaries
  • Well Named
  • Two Giants Become One
  • Phenomenal musicianship
  • Exciting and...enchanting.
 The Enchantment
Chick Corea , and Bela Fleck
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Pilgrimage
  2. Hidden Land
  3. Brown Street
  4. Metheny Mehldau Quartet
  5. Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

ASIN: B000NJL4WQ
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

  1. Senorita
  2. Spectacle
  3. Joban Dna Nopia
  4. Mountain
  5. Children's Song No.6
  6. A Strange Romance
  7. Menagerie
  8. Waltse For Abby
  9. Brazil
  10. The Enchantment
  11. Sunset Road

Amazon.com

Fans of legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea and bebop/bluegrass banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck are well aware of the pair's previous collaborations (Corea guests on two Flecktones albums, and Fleck appears on Corea's Rendezvous in New York DVD), but their first full-length release should surprise even their most jaded followers. The two went into the project with intense seriousness of purpose, Corea writing four pieces and Fleck six. (The standard "Brazil" is their only cover.) They push each other hard in adapting their instruments to genres (bluegrass, country, Latin, ragtime, classical, blues, and world) normally outside their idioms, Corea playing 'grassy banjo patterns on the piano on Fleck's mournful "Mountain" and Fleck stretching on Corea's suite-like "Joban Dna Nopia." With few exceptions, the compositions are only frameworks for vast improvisation, which might be expected. But instead of setting each other up for extended solos, Corea and Fleck join together with breathtaking precision and verve, weaving and intertwining through remarkable contrapuntal excursions, only to break and meet up again in perfect sync. Despite the thrill of Fleck's chromatic chases and classical flirtations and Corea's mastery of difficult lines on Fleck's rippling "Spectacle," one can't help but think they would have benefited from a tad more instrumentation--especially bass and percussion. Perhaps that's the next step this wickedly inventive duo wll take in their ongoing odyssey of genius. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pushing the boundaries.......2007-06-27

I'm waiting for Bela Fleck to put out a CD with a Kazoo master. He is such a fun and inventive artist. Chick Corea, as always, rocks.

5 out of 5 stars Well Named.......2007-06-27

I love Chick Corea. I love Bela Fleck. This album breaks new ground. Highly Recommended!

5 out of 5 stars Two Giants Become One.......2007-06-22

I was fortunate to watch these 2 virtuosos perform live at the Keswick Theatre in suburban Philadelphia to a sold-out crowd. To invite the audience into their performance, they kept the house lights on, and performed in their newly established duo, sharing with the audience their immediate rapport via emailing tunes to one another.

A preeminent pianist who appeared with Miles Davis, Anthony Armando "Chick" Corea was born in Massachusetts in 1941 while Bela Fleck, named after Bartok, was born in 1958 in New York City. The haunting banjo strumming and fingerpicking enriched Chick's phenomenal acoustic keyboard virtuoso, which are revealed on the CD.

It's always good to see musicians who continue to evolve through the universal language of music.

5 out of 5 stars Phenomenal musicianship.......2007-06-14

Purchased this album on my lunch break... my god! A fantastic active listening album that makes the toes curl

4 out of 5 stars Exciting and...enchanting........2007-06-05

"The Enchantment" is the first-ever studio collaboration between jazz pianist Chick Corea and banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, capturing the astonishing interplay between these two master musicians.
Immensely popular in their own musical spheres - combined, they have won an astounding 20 Grammy awards - they have forged a true collaboration with the release of this album.
I would not have guessed that a collection of songs this enjoyable could have been created with only piano and banjo, but these guys are so talented and innovative that it works.
A key aspect might be that ten of the eleven cuts were written by one or the other of the stars, and it's obvious that they know their own strengths -- and each other's.
Bela has been innovating almost as long as he's been playing the banjo. He's delved into the jazz world before, hiring jazz musicians to be in his band, and recording with jazz players at times. He's even recorded with Chick Corea before when Corea made guest appearances on two Flecktone recordings in the 1990's. But this new record is the first time the two players and composers have worked together to record a duet album.
As a duo, Fleck and Corea combine a variety of musical styles and flavors -- from blues to bluegrass, from classical to country.
The 11-track album released on Concord Records, features four compositions by Corea, including the title track, and six by Fleck. Also included is an unlikely and uniquely witty cover of the standard "Brazil".
The opener, Corea's "Seniorita" is a Latin-based tune, as are many of Corea's best-known compositions, but Fleck makes himself right at home, coaxing a classical sound from his banjo that is truly amazing. On "Mountain," which hews closer to the banjo's bluegrass roots, Corea has no problem finding his space and interjecting his own voice into the proceedings. Fleck's "A Strange Romance" bristles with gypsy influence, and again, Corea is right at home.
Though each performer is an amazing soloist and there are plenty of great solos here, it is often just as impressive to simply hear the way that these masterful musicians combine and interweave their instrumental voices to create something new.
An example of this is found on ballads like Fleck's sofly elegant "Folksy Waltse for Abby", Corea's "Children's Song #6" and "A Strange Romance", where regardless of which voice has the lead, the other twines its way in and around the lead voice.
And the title tune of the album, "The Enchantment", gives the listener a new listening experience, while at the same time retaining a comfort level not present in some examples of cutting-edge music.
I love it from start to finish.
Their version of "Brazil" keeps playing in my brain...and heart.
You will love it!
Live Art
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Live Art is Lively and Lovely
  • Bluegrass Fusion
  • Live Art
  • Players from the highest realm
  • You have got to hear this album!
 Live Art
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Tales From the Acoustic Planet

ASIN: B000002N7R
Release Date: 1996-09-10

Tracks:

  1. Intro
  2. New South Africa
  3. Stomping Grounds
  4. Lochs Of Dread
  5. Bigfoot
  6. Far East Medley
  7. Flying Saucer Dudes
  8. UFO Tofu
  9. Interlude-Libation, The Water Ritual
  10. Vix 9
  11. The Message

Tracks:

  1. Improv/Amazing Grace
  2. Shubbee's Doobie
  3. Oh Darling
  4. Blu-Bop
  5. Sunset Road
  6. More Luv
  7. Early Reflection/ Bach/The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
  8. Cheeseballs In Cowtown
  9. The Sinister Minister
  10. Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo

Amazon.com essential recording

Something of a retrospective, Live Art is a treat for both newcomers and aficionados of the eye-popping artistry that is Bela Fleck, not to mention his more-than-capable partners in crime, bassist Victor Wooten and percussionist (well, it's not exactly a drum set he plays) Future Man. This two-disc set features live performances spanning a four-year period, with several guest appearances: Branford Marsalis sits in on "Flying Saucer Dudes," Chick Corea is featured on "The Message," and Bruce Hornsby appears on "More Luv." Several never-before-recorded songs appear here as well--the Scottish-inflected "Lochs of Dread," among others. Favorites like "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo," "UFO Tofu," and "Sinister Minister" are here as well, making this a well-rounded, enjoyable collection for any Fleck fan. Jazz? Folk? Bluegrass? Who knows, but whatever it is, it's well worth hearing. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Live Art is Lively and Lovely.......2007-07-03

I expected to like this one, but I was truly pleased at how much I do. Heretofore my favorites have been UFO TOFU and Perpetual Motion, but Live Art is now my 3rd equal favorite. Its variety and numbers which allow the world's foremost banjo artist to display his own compositions and phenominal skill are a delight.

5 out of 5 stars Bluegrass Fusion.......2007-06-12

I first discovered Bela Fleck when he was just a bluegrass virtuoso, but now with this live album of the best of the music with the Flecktones, he's so much more. Bringing bluegrass and jazz together is genius and doing so with the humor of many of the pieces just adds to the mix. Most important, none of the virtuosity of his or any of his bandmates has been lost. Great album.

5 out of 5 stars Live Art.......2007-05-31

The title about says it all. Just a wonderful experience to listen to.

5 out of 5 stars Players from the highest realm.......2007-02-12

This album is INCREDIBLE. Start to finish, Bela & Company absolutely blow me away and make me realize that, as a musician, I will never reach the ability of the best I've ever heard. They, to me, are simply the best. And don't be shyed away by this praise, the music does not suffer because of their talent. Every song is original and the melodies are gorgeous. They showcase their genious on these two discs and this is a timeless classic for any bluegrass, jazz, classical, or rock fan. As close to perfect as an album gets.

5 out of 5 stars You have got to hear this album!.......2006-07-10

This has to be the most incredible album I've heard in years. My introduction to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones was on a trip to the States from the UK in 1993 on business. I flicked on the TV in my hotel room and there was a music festival on. I watched the incredible wizardry of Victor Wooton on the bass and was transfixed. Never before had I heard a banjo sound so exciting as it was they way Bela Fleck played it. I had only a few minutes to listen before I had to leave, but that experience left its mark. Why then did it take me 13 years to try out a Flecktones album? God knows, but all I can say is BUY THIS ALBUM! Whatever musical vibe you're into, whether Jazz, Bluegrass, etc, I can guarantee you will LOVE this album. The music is sensational, and the incredible talent of all the musicians is something I find it hard to put in words. As you can tell, I'm now hooked on Bela Fleck and the Flecktones! And I suspect you will be too.
Hidden Land
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Fresh, Innovative, Fleck
  • Enjoyable listening.
  • A Great Imitation of Their Own Style
  • Pleasant (newly defined) mix of genres
  • Flashes of greatness.
 Hidden Land
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. The Enchantment
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ASIN: B000BUXUU6
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Tracks:

  1. Fugue From Prelude & Fugue No. 20 In A Minor, BWV 889
  2. P'lod In The House
  3. Rococo
  4. Labyrinth
  5. Kaleidoscope
  6. Who's Got Three?
  7. Weed Whacker
  8. Couch Potato
  9. Chennai
  10. Subterfuge
  11. Interlude
  12. Misunderstood
  13. The Whistle Tune

Amazon.com

Banjo player Bela Fleck has a world-class set of chops and a willingness to follow his muse wherever it takes him. The band ranges far and wide once again on the The Hidden Land ­ it opens with a Bach Fugue, delves into swing, has a bit of bluegrass, does progressive rock, and jets to several other locales. But the everything-and-the-kitchen sink concept is still considerable more streamlined than 2003's Little Worlds, an overproduced and under-focused three-CD set. Highlights here include Fleck's pickin' on a progressive country stomp called "Weed Whacker" and the playful "Couch Potato," which has a hyper edge that doesn't match the sedentary implications of the title. The band's telepathic interaction is highlighted on the Middle East-influenced "Chennai," ­where musical lines are played in unison or tossed back and forth, making the song crackle with energy. The broad aesthetic and restless sonic changes might be a bit much for some, but a patient survey of this album will be rewarded. ­--Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fresh, Innovative, Fleck.......2007-02-21

The band started to get carried away with guest appearances (Outbound, Little Worlds, etc.) that it was almost unbearable and overwhelming. Their compositions suffered because instead of something designed for specifically the Flecktones, other things came out of the woodworks (not to say that all of it or any of it was bad, but it was almost too much).

When I listen to this album, not only does it feel more original and fresher than anything I have heard Bela and the Flecktones do (at least after listening to their older albums for long spans of time), but this album just has a more intimate and naturally revealing side of the Flecktones. This is an album that will make you think, "Wow I was not expecting that! I kind of like it! Give me more!" and the more you listen to it, the more you feel like you are on the same page as them. This is a more mature album, not one for someone who does not already know how Bela Fleck speaks, so please do not listen to this as a novice listener, it sends a false first impression. The music is more jazz-like than before, and all of the songs flow together. The Flecktones take the listener on an epic adventure like none of the albums have really done before. With the major peaks (in my opinion) being the transition from Fugue to P'lod, Labyrinth, Weed Wacker>Couch Potato>Chennai, this album hits hard from the getgo.

I have always wondered, what will they do next? Bela plays guitar on here, Futureman plays a lot more acoustic drums (which is soooo refreshing), Jeff plays the flute quite a bit, and Victor is always amazing. This album keeps the Flecktones in my top five best bands of all time; The Hidden Land is indeed another album that leaves the listener wanting much more, just like the others. Although, I really like this style the most, I hope they produce more of this gold.

-Aaron

4 out of 5 stars Enjoyable listening........2006-12-09

After several Flecktones albums (including 2003's ambitious triple CD Little Worlds that found the act collaborating with all-star guests including Derek Trucks, Branford Marsalis, and Bobby McFerrin), the group chose a back-to-basics approach for its latest release "The Hidden Land".
The disc solely features the Flecktones quartet, comprised of bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist Roy "Future Man" Wooten, and saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Together, the band expertly hones its trademark combination of bluegrass, jazz, funk, and rock influences within a more spacious and stripped-down environment.
The band has been together for 17 years, always trying to find the right next thing to do and not repeat themselves.
Having a lot of guests playing with them was an incredible amount of fun, but if they were to continue along that path,they would become very predictable.
Banjoist Bela Fleck hooks back up with his longtime backing group The Flecktones featuring longtime electric bass stalwart Victor Wooten. Their music is a mix of Americana, funk grooves and jazz and makes for pleasant if unchallenging listening. After opening with a brief Bach classical composition, the group moves into "P'lod in the House" which kicks the tempo up with pulsating electric bass and funky drum breaks. Wooten's bass is an active presence in almost every performance on this disc, especially on "Labyrinth" where it underpins pensive sounding flute and saxophone solos while scatted vocals bubble just underneath the surface.
There's a brief acoustic interlude on "Who's Got Three" with unamplified banjo (fingers scraping quite audibly on the fretboard) and clarinet taking center stage. Funky bass moves back into the forefront with the upbeat "Weed Whacker" with some quick pickin' and bouncy saxophone. "Subterfuge" gets a little more adventurous as the band jumps the rails of its comfort zone with an electric guitar solo, before ending things on a back-porch note, pickin' the banjo and tootin' on the flute for "The Whistle Song." Jam band fans will find a lit of grooves to like here, and while I found myself wishing that they took a few more chances, the album does make for pleasant if unchallenging background music.

1 out of 5 stars A Great Imitation of Their Own Style.......2006-11-18

Reading between the grooves, it sounds like there was a contractual obligation to produce a new album. Great playing. Innovative compositions. It's hard to pinpoint why these great musicians somehow just didn't manage to get this bird in the air. However, nothing about it really inspires, entertains or surprises.

5 out of 5 stars Pleasant (newly defined) mix of genres.......2006-11-02

This was my introduction to Béla Fleck and it served me very well. It's supposed to be very different than previous albums (more jazzy) and this is absolutely well done. I find it magnificient! You should have a (at least small) taste for jazz sounds, otherwise, "Hidden Land" won't work for you.

Not all songs are good, but what do you expect? I like most: Rococco, Kaleidoscope, Weed Whacker and The Whistle Tune.

Buttom line: In my view, Béla Fleck's sound and melodies have evolved for the better in the past years. It's getting more unique every time. I like it!

2 out of 5 stars Flashes of greatness........2006-09-25

I have to say that this is without a doubt their most uninspired and unoriginal album yet. The first few tracks are really bad, as bad as "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" (I thought they got all that out of their system?). Maybe it will grow on me, but I think with repeated listens I will become more and more bored with it. I will say that as the album moves on, it gets better and "Misunderstood" is definitely the high point on the album (Too bad it takes so long to get there). I have a really hard time recommending this album especially considering their ridiculously strong output leading up to it. Here's to hoping their following is looking better for the mighty Flecktones.

Look for _Outbound_ or _Little Worlds_ instead.
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Greatest Hits Of The 20th Century
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • great
  • Umm.... Wow! (4.5 Stars)
  • Decent place to start if you would like a sampler of them
  • Fantastic...an eyeopener to those who do not know Fleck
  • Good, but not the best
 Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Greatest Hits Of The 20th Century
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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  1. Live Art
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  5. Flight of the Cosmic Hippo

ASIN: B00002MZ37
Release Date: 1999-11-16

Tracks:

  1. The Sinister Minister
  2. Stomping Grounds
  3. Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo
  4. Shocktime
  5. Sex In A Pan
  6. The Yee-Haw Factor
  7. Road House Blues
  8. Vix 9
  9. Communication
  10. Big Country
  11. Sunset Road

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great.......2007-05-07

I have got this CD due to my collegues request,and the music quality and the songs, and the thyme and the harmony is just on target for people who likes to listen jazz..I have got other CD's from this artist but I am agree that this "Bestof" album is the best...

4 out of 5 stars Umm.... Wow! (4.5 Stars).......2006-03-31

BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES - Greatest Hits of the 20th Century
-
I was introduced to Victor Wooten solo stuff a few years back and was, needless to say, amazed! Through him I found out about Bela Fleck. I had first purchased `Three Flew over the Coo-Coos Nest' (Also amazing) then I followed with this stunning hits album. This is a good place to begin for newbies.

For those that do not know Victor Wooten is the god of bass... He makes Les Claypool, Flea, Geddy Lee, and the like all sound like amateurs. His brother Roy AKA `Future Man' plays the Drumitar (A Combination of a Synth, Drum Machine and a Guitar.) and Bela, plays the Banjo.

The band fuses, Bluegrass, Funk, Jazz, Rock, Country, and more... This album covers a span of roughly 10 years and has many classic songs.

If you like creative, extremely talented music or if you are a Bass or Banjo player, (or by some really fluke chance have a Drumitar) you need to get this CD. (And their other CD's!!!)

Favorite Songs: Shocktime, Sinister Minister, Vix 9 and Roadhouse Blues.
-4.5 Stars


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4 out of 5 stars Decent place to start if you would like a sampler of them.......2006-02-18

Although alot of the songs I became attached to aren't on this single disc, there are still some good examples of what this band has done over the years...as well as a few that havn't been released previously on CD. Each one of their original studio CDs kinda took a life on its own...each encompassing a certain era of the Flecktones throughout their career. Especially with the change from Howard Levy to Jeff Coffin, there are definite flavors from one CD to the next...maybe I only see it that way. Anyway, if you are starting out listening to this band, keep that in mind as you go through each song. Each cut, if you like it, would probably mean you would like the disc that it came from. This disc does do a nice job of giving examples from the different time periods of the Flecktones time as a band.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic...an eyeopener to those who do not know Fleck.......2001-06-23

I bought this CD on the advise of the Tower records manager in Bangkok ( good taste)whilst never having heard of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

It was an absolute eye-opener and I am really hooked. The opening with "Sinister Minister" makes you sit up straight and, yes, I cannot wait ontil I have found a good live version of this track.

The combination of banjo, mandolin and the virtuoso bass work of Vince Wooten does not cease to amaze me. It contains so many traditional elements and, yet, it is so contemporary.

In this age of throw away music it is very satisfactory to listen to a band where every individual member is in absolute control of his instrument and indeed a master on it.

It is difficult to put this music into a category except in the category of "very good music". It may be true that for the real aficionados this may not be the best ( see other reviews) but I think for those not familiar with this band it is a very good introduction.

I will certainly go out now and buy "Live Art".

4 out of 5 stars Good, but not the best.......2000-02-16

Any Flecktone fan will of course add this to their collection, but the 'Greatest' Flecktone work is 'Live Art'. The two new tracks are classic Flecktones. Buy 'Live Art' first, and then you'll want 'Greatest Hits of the 20th Century'.
The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This is one of my favorit Bela Fleck records!
  • A Rarity...
  • Hair Raising
  • Outstanding CD!
  • If I could recommend only one CD to anyone, this would be it.
 The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
Béla Fleck
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000JC6D
Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

  1. Blue Mountain Hop
  2. Buffalo Nickel
  3. When Joy Kills Sorrow
  4. Spanish Point
  5. Polka On The Banjo
  6. Clarinet Polka
  7. The Over Grown Waltz
  8. Ode To Earl
  9. Home Sweet Home
  10. Valley Of The Rogue
  11. Plunkey's Lament
  12. Maura On A Bicycle, Stout And Molasses, Way Back When
  13. Dark Circles
  14. Old Jellico, Puddle Jumper, Dead Man's Hill
  15. Katmandu
  16. Do You Have Room?
  17. Foggy Mountain Special
  18. Major Honker

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

In a jaw-dropping return to his roots, banjoist Béla Fleck led a stellar lineup (Jerry Douglas, Earl Scruggs, Tony Rice, and Sam Bush, to name a few) through one of his finest albums. With incredible musicianship and a smidgen of Fleck's genre-hopping personality ("Polka On The Banjo"), The Bluegrass Sessions is fun, nostalgic, and inspiring. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

Béla Fleck, the banjo-wizard leader of the fringe-jazz quartet the Flecktones, returns to more-bluegrass-oriented concerns with this 18-song outing, a complement to 1988's Drive and a more-traditional follow-up to 1995's fusion-leaning Tales from the Acoustic Planet. Most of these songs are instrumentals boasting Drive's core group of Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Tony Rice on guitar, Jerry Douglas on Dobro, and bassist Mark Schatz; they're augmented in spots by fine guest players such as Vassar Clements, John Hartford, and the incomparable banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs. Fleck's spidery, tasteful plucking style lends originals like "Major Honker" and "Katmandu" an ever-so-slightly offbeat air, while he gives classics like Scruggs's "Foggy Mountain Special" and "Polka on the Banjo" traditional readings that wouldn't be out of place at the Opry. Flecktones fans will find much to like in Fleck's rootsy playing, and so will bluegrass purists. --Gregory McNamee

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is one of my favorit Bela Fleck records!.......2007-01-10

I love this CD, i think it is one of the best bluegrass collections Bela has produced, with a host of different styles and artists.

4 out of 5 stars A Rarity..........2006-07-19

It's rare when a sequel exceeds the original. This album, though, exceeds the first "Acoustic Planet" effort by Fleck.

Why? Well, the playing is better technically, if you can believe that. And the energy and drive is stronger here than in Acoustic Planet 1.

You also get treated to a greater number of original compositions on this CD. I've come to appreciate this dimension of Fleck's artistic gifts even more as time has passed. While he does do a lot of variations on derivative music, his original compositions are memorable, too.

5 out of 5 stars Hair Raising.......2006-04-12

I've had this album for two years now and it still sometimes makes my hair stand on end when I listen to it and I don't even consider myself a SERIOUS bluegrass fan. Absolutely amazing!

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding CD!.......2006-02-25

Bela Fleck is arguably the premeir banjo player in the world and he does not disappoint on this CD. His music and that of the musicians he has gathered to play with him is superb. If your feet aren't tapping to the music in short order, then you probably have a few disconnnected nerves leading to them.

If you enjoy Americana/Bluegrass/Country, then you'll love this CD!

5 out of 5 stars If I could recommend only one CD to anyone, this would be it........2005-11-20

This is the CD that was singlehandedly responsible for revealing my long-hidden love of bluegrass music to me. I can listen to it in any season or mood and at any time of day. Each performer on the CD has moved beyond mastery of his instrument to fusion with it, and the results are incredible to hear. My favorite track on the CD is "Buffalo Nickel," which combines a gorgeous wistful melody with a constantly shifting meter and an undercurrent of satisfaction. Other favorites include the rollicking opening track of "Blue Mountain Hop," the well-titled "When Joy Kills Sorrow," the lullaby favorite "The Over Grown Waltz," the deliciously fast ending track "Major Honker"...well, who am I kidding? The entire CD is amazing. It gets my highest recommendation. Don't waver. Buy it. You'll be glad you did.
Perpetual Motion
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amazing and beautiful
  • Another Bela Fleck Masterpiece!
  • Definitely a Winner
  • Soul Food
  • AN AMAZING WORK ! ! !
 Perpetual Motion
Bela Fleck , Edgar Meyer , Evelyn Glennie , Joshua Bell , Gary Hoffman , John [guitar] Williams , Domenico Scarlatti , Johann Sebastian Bach , Claude Debussy , Fryderyk Chopin , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Johannes Brahms , Niccolo Paganini , and Ludwig van Beethoven
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

MazurkasMazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
DuetsDuets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Paganini, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Music for Two (Bonus DVD)
  2. The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
  3. Hidden Land
  4. Live Art
  5. Uncommon Ritual

ASIN: B00005OSX6
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

  1. Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in C Major K. 159
  2. Bach: Two-Part Invention No. 13
  3. Debussy: "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum" from Children's Corner
  4. Chopin: Mazurka in F-sharp Minor
  5. Bach: "Prelude" from Partita No. 3 for Solo Violin
  6. Chopin: Etude in C-sharp Minor
  7. Chopin: Mazurka in F-sharp Minor
  8. Bach: Three-Part Invention No. 10
  9. Tchaikovsky: Melody in E-flat
  10. Brahms: "Presto in G-Minor I after Bach"
  11. Bach: "Prelude" from Suite for Unaccompanied Cello 1
  12. Bach: Three-Part Invention No. 15
  13. Paganini: Moto Perpetuo
  14. Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D Minor K. 213
  15. Bach: Two-Part Invention No. 6
  16. Beethoven: "Adagio sostenuto" from "Moonlight" Sonata
  17. Bach: Two-Part Invention No. 11
  18. Beethoven: Seven Variations on "God Save The King"
  19. Bach: Three-Part Invention No. 7
  20. Paganini: Moto Perpetuo (Bluegrass version)

Amazon.com

Bela Fleck is one of the greatest five-string banjo players performing today. Beginning in the 1970s, he honed his lightning-fast chops performing bluegrass, then moved on to contemporary jazz and fusion sounds. With this album, he broadens his horizons once again by performing an entire program of classical music transcriptions. Reminiscent of classical guitar albums by John Williams (who makes a guest appearance here), the disc traverses a wide range of repertoire--from Chopin mazurkas to Bach's Two and Three Part Inventions. Throughout, Fleck displays a feathery touch on his banjo, and his instrument offers a pleasant, brassy tone with very little twang. The technique he displays on Perpetual Motion is astounding and a refreshing change of pace from the smooth grooves found on the banjoist's Flecktones recordings. The arrangements are generally minimalist and understated, but violinist Joshua Bell, bassist Edgar Meyer, mandolinist Chris Thile, and percussionist Evelyn Glennie join in on this groundbreaking disc. Bluegrass purists may be disappointed (this is a far cry from the free-spirited, folksy abandon found on Sony's Short Trip Home and Appalachian Journey CDs), but classical fans will be astounded by how perfectly natural Fleck's banjo sounds on these works. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Amazing and beautiful.......2007-01-02

Fleck's 2001 disc `Perpetual Motion' is by far his most ambitious foray into virtuosity, performing classical works by Bach, Scarlatti and Chopin.

And he does it without really showing off. He only tackles mazurkas, fugues and Bach classical inventions on the five-string banjo, a simple instrument for which this music was never conceived.

I once flirted with playing the banjo, and it wasn't an easy task, even trying to play 'Uncle Pen'.

But the man must be possessed to play it like Bela does. Alternating between delicate and complicated, slow to fast, Fleck gets about as much out of the humble banjo as anyone possibly could. He plays it precisely and with a light touch, with respect for the music and his instrument.

Some reviewers think it pretentious of Fleck to attempt a banjo foray into the classical genre. That's bunk. How is virtuosity measured, after all? By playing many genres: classical, bluegrass, pop, jazz, Indian, fusion. And by playing them well.

Fleck wasn't awarded a Grammy for this recording just by looking pretty. He earned it.

5 out of 5 stars Another Bela Fleck Masterpiece!.......2006-09-17

Who knew there could be classical banjo. It may sound dumb to some of you, but Bela Fleck pulls it off perfectly. I prefer the jazz fusion of his work with the Flecktones, but that does not mean this is not brilliant. Technically speaking, Bela and all of his collaborators are the best around, and who can argue with the songwriting of the classical composers(no one openly insults Mozart). If you haven't heard Bela Fleck, here's some advice. Get one of his Flecktones albums if you're into jazz, rock, or funk, this if you like classical, and his Newgrass Revival, Strength in Numbers, or Sam Bush stuff if you're a bluegrass fan.

5 out of 5 stars Definitely a Winner.......2006-07-05

It is apparent to my ears why this CD won a Grammy. It takes familiar classical music pieces and puts the distinct Bela Fleck style on them. The pairing of the banjo with different instruments makes this album texturally interesting for the ear and one does not tire of the selections, even if they are familiar. My favorite pairing is the marimba with the banjo. The liner notes are interesting, as is Bela's story on how difficult it was to make the album. It was definitely worth his time and the listener's .

5 out of 5 stars Soul Food.......2006-01-30

This is exquisite! The best of human experience encoded on a simple CD disk.

5 out of 5 stars AN AMAZING WORK ! ! !.......2005-11-12

I was searching a classical music CD for a long time which is something different.Which consists variety of instruments. Like guitar,violin,banjo,mandolin...for example.Something different and also exiting music.This CD fullfills my wishes. The music like this doesn't come up very often I suppose!
Béla Fleck did a great job by working with people who is masters of their instruments like John Williams etc. This causes the CD to be more joyful.You won't get bored to listen it again and again!
Anyway ,either you are a fan of classical music or not, you won't be dissapointed with this.I guarantee :)
Heartland: An Appalachian Anthology
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A piece of heaven
  • Great CD
  • A bit of a yawn-er
  • Exquisitely good music!
  • Great Music!
 Heartland: An Appalachian Anthology

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Foster, StephenFoster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by O'ConnorAll Works by O'Connor | O'Connor, Mark | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ContemporaryContemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
TraditionalTraditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional FolkTraditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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  1. Appalachian Journey
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ASIN: B00005KIZP
Release Date: 2001-07-03

Tracks:

  1. Short Trip Home
  2. Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier
  3. 1B
  4. Appalachia Waltz
  5. Soldier's Joy
  6. Sliding Down
  7. BT
  8. Butterfly's Day Out
  9. College Hornpipe
  10. Fancy Stops and Goes
  11. Old Tyme
  12. Emily's Reel
  13. Slumber My Darling
  14. Death by Triple Fiddle
  15. Amazing Grace
  16. Song of the Liberty Bell (folk version)

Amazon.com

The likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, Joshua Bell, and Mark O'Connor can be heard on Heartland, a compilation featuring the best tracks from Sony's ongoing Appalachian-themed series of CDs. Individually, these folk and classical stars have little in common, but when they meet to play these new bluegrass-meets-chamber-music arrangements, the results are pure magic. It's hard to pinpoint these Americana-tinged tunes--they could fit in either Carnegie Hall or a grange hall--but they're all great; this is as much Aaron Copland's version of roots music as it is Bill Monroe's. Whether on fast-and-furious breakdowns such as "Death by Triple Fiddle" or on mellow, almost New Agey instrumentals such as "Sliding Down" (featuring Bela Fleck on the banjo), these musicians excel. Guest vocals by James Taylor and Alison Krauss break up the instrumentals, though instrumental virtuosity is the real highlight of this disc. If you like what you hear on this sampler, check out the Grammy Award-winning Appalachian Journey next. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A piece of heaven.......2006-02-01

Heartland is a haven and a piece of heaven. I was transported.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2004-03-16

Great violin, appalachian music, brings out your country roots, beautiful song by Allison Krauss, good mix of slow and up beat songs, excellent cd!

3 out of 5 stars A bit of a yawn-er.......2003-04-22

If you are planning to open up a high-end gift shop specializing in handcrafted wind chimes and micro-bakery scone mixes and the like, then you must have this CD playing for your customers. It might have a certain appeal there that it did not find in my living room. Not to say that the musicianship is not utterly outstanding, which it is most certainly. Aside from Short Trip Home, which is why I purchased this CD in the first place, I found the rest of the pieces somewhat vapid considering the caliber of the artists. Again, it has its appeal in an easy listening realm, but this was not what I was looking for.

5 out of 5 stars Exquisitely good music!.......2002-05-04

Didn't expect an outstanding cd, don't know exactly why i got it,maybe because of yo yo and bela, but every piece is played
beautifully, even the vocal piece by James Taylor. The album is almost too good to be called Heartland, every piece is a class act. Bravo!

5 out of 5 stars Great Music!.......2001-11-09

I drive alot commuting to and from my job. This music has served as the perfect backdrop to an lovely Indiana fall! I'm sure I'll recall those colorful images as I continue to listen to this CD through the colorless days of winter!
Music for Two (Bonus DVD)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Must Have
  • Broad Spectrum Virtuosity
  • Cool Pairing for Meyer/Fleck Fans
  • Bela Fleck + Edgar Meyer = strange mixture
  • Virtuosity Knows No Musical Boundaries
 Music for Two (Bonus DVD)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Eccles, HenryEccles, Henry | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
FuguesFugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SinfoniaSinfonia | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0001XAMS6
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

  1. Bug Tussle
  2. Invention 10, BWV 796
  3. Pile Up
  4. Prelude No.24, BWV 869
  5. Solar
  6. Blue Spruce
  7. Canon
  8. The One I Left Behind
  9. V. Menuet I - II, BWV 825
  10. Prelude No.2, BWV 847
  11. Palmyra
  12. The Lake Effect
  13. Largo/Allegro Vivace
  14. Allegro Vivace
  15. Wrong Number
  16. Woolly Mammoth
  17. Wishful Thinking

Amazon.com

On Music for Two, banjo wizard Béla Fleck and stand-up bass maestro Edgar Meyer effortlessly sail through a challenging program that includes compositions by Bach, a sonata by Henry Eccles, a Miles Davis tune, and a number of self-composed finger twisters. The amazing thing about this varied selection is not its eclecticism--which is only to be expected with these two--but that it all blends together so seamlessly. Fleck's jazz-tinged compositions (like "The Lake Effect") and Meyer's bluegrass-inspired tunes (like "Wishful Thinking") sit so comfortably next to Bach's baroque jewels and Davis's cool jazz that it makes you question the entire of concept of musical classification. (In fact, the Bach preludes, inventions, and partitas translate so well to the banjo/bass arrangements, you have to wonder if old JSB might not have had a bit of bluegrass in his soul.) Music for Two was recorded live at a series of 2001 concerts, where Fleck and Meyer proved conclusively that the banjo and the bass were capable of remarkable subtlety and not just twang and boom. --Michael John Simmons

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Must Have.......2007-04-25

These two really sound good together. If you're not so impressed with the music when you first hear it (I don't know if that's possible), check out the DVD that comes with it. You will gain such an appreciation for the music that's being played. Watch out for the guy making the banjo jokes. This CD is really an incredible work, I can't say it enough. Very relaxing music.

4 out of 5 stars Broad Spectrum Virtuosity.......2007-04-23

This album runs the gamut of styles and genre. It is hard to get bored when a musical turn is but a few notes away. The two musicians integrate their instruments with incredible skill. I hate to give it a four star rating. The music is worth the 5. The loooooong, live applause tracks detract from the album. The asides by the musicians are sometimes hard to hear. Minor aggravations aside,this album plays frequently, very frequently, in our home,car, iPods, etc.

5 out of 5 stars Cool Pairing for Meyer/Fleck Fans.......2007-01-02

I've seen both Edgar Meyer and Bela Fleck live (unfortunately not together) and I really think this album just captures the magic of their live shows: I can almost see them in my living room together! For those not so familiar with the music of one or both the inclusion of classical tunes with those composed by Meyer/Fleck and other contemporary songwriters is a cool drink of water. Music for Two is a good intro to the world of cozy bluegrass.

5 out of 5 stars Bela Fleck + Edgar Meyer = strange mixture .......2006-11-10

Bela Fleck is one of the my jazz favorites... And hi with combination called Edgar Meyer are... great music!!!

5 out of 5 stars Virtuosity Knows No Musical Boundaries.......2006-10-22

Béla Fleck & Edgar Meyer are both extraordinarily accomplished musicians who spend much of their time in very different worlds: Fleck in his newgrass space and Meyer in a more classical mode. But each has travelled in the other's territory before, and on this CD they connect around more genres than you can shake a stick at. In addition to their own compositions they tackle many of their joint favorites. The affection shows in the passion of the playing and the obvious camaraderie. And the accompanying DVD is a treat. Don't miss this one.
Tales From the Acoustic Planet
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Classic!
  • Bluegrass Fusion Lives!
  • Master of Many Genres
  • Definitely Different
  • From Good to Great?
 Tales From the Acoustic Planet
Béla Fleck
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002MWU
Release Date: 1995-04-11

Tracks:

  1. Up And Running
  2. First Light
  3. The Great Circle Route
  4. Circus Of Regrets
  5. Three Bridges Home
  6. The Landing
  7. Arkansas Traveler
  8. Backwoods Galaxy
  9. In Your Eyes
  10. System Seven
  11. Cheeseballs In Cowtown
  12. Bicyclops
  13. Jayme Lynn
  14. For Sascha

Amazon.com

Bela Fleck has completely transcended any and all expectations we have for the banjo. Having spent the better part of five previous years exploring a variety of formal and improvised designs with his virtuoso ensemble, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, this banjo innovator chose to celebrate a variety of musical friends and influences on this homey, elegant, immaculately recorded aural novella--one that clearly links him to such progressive jazz/fusion forebears as Return to Forever and Oregon (not to mention Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys). While a manic hoe-down like "Cheeseballs in Cowtown" illustrates his command of post-modern bluegrass, his freeform duet "Bicyclops" (with mentor Chick Corea) is indicative of this great musician's astonishing technical and emotional range. Elsewhere tunes such as "Up and Running," "The Great Circle Route," and "System Seven" seem to reconcile his complex rhythmic inclinations with stately folkish themes, mixing traditional bluegrass instrumentation with the likes of electric bass, drums, piano, and oboe. And on extended forms such as "Circus of Regrets" and "Jayme Lynn," Fleck showcases his ever-expanding breadth and range as a modern composer. --Chip Stern

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Classic!.......2007-01-25

This is the first Bela Fleck record I ever purchased (April '95). Have been a huge fan from then on. This is still on of my favorite Bela records. Excellent songwriting, playing etc... The Landing and System Seven are two of my favorite songs ever. Both are very moving in different ways.

5 out of 5 stars Bluegrass Fusion Lives!.......2007-01-11

Along with mates such as Jerry Douglas (dobro), Sam Bush (mandolin), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Chick Corea (piano), Edgar Meyer (bass) and others, virtuoso banjoist Bela Fleck here recreates another CD of his masterful approach to acoustic bluegrass fusion.

With this remarkable CD, Americana has a new infusion of creative energy!

5 out of 5 stars Master of Many Genres.......2007-01-05

Few musicians qualify as "master" of any genre. Bela Fleck joins Benny Goodman as one who qualifies as a master of many -- Blue Grass, Jazz, Classical. Any album associated with the name "Fleck" is worth your time.

5 out of 5 stars Definitely Different.......2006-10-29

One of the nicest things about this CD is that it doesn't particularly sound like most other banjo albums. Sometimes I want the excitement of flying down gravelly roads in a hillbilly truck chasin badguys but usually by the end of the chase I'm tired and ready for something else or passed out. It gets old pretty quick but this CD doesn't! This is one of the most interesting titles featuring the banjo that I've ever heard in that it crosses into fields of bluegrass, pop, jazz, folk, fusion and back effortlessly. The recording itself is excellent too. No overamplified instruments or unbalanced sound anywhere.

Of course if you're looking for a sountrack to a Dukes of Hazzard, Sheriff Lobo or Smokey and the Bandit flic this probably isn't gonna do it fer ya but it's easily one of the most played instrumental CDs in my place.

4 out of 5 stars From Good to Great?.......2006-07-19

The songs on this album are memorable and powerful. It's hard not to appreciate the sheer originality of Fleck's work.

However, the sparkle and energy of the earlier "electric" works are not evident here, and I miss them too much. While he is a virtuoso player, he cannot sustain as much interest as what I came to like so much in the amplified and synthsized works.

The album is very listenable, and I do prefer it for background music when working, etc. But it cannot sustain my interest.
The Essential Joshua Bell
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Violin touches your heart
 The Essential Joshua Bell

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NDIAXI
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Violin touches your heart.......2007-06-24

Those who do not prefer violin music should try this. His violin will change your world.
His music touches people's heart.

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