Left of Cool

Bela Fleck | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 9, 1998)
• Original Release Date: June 9, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000007NCY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,161 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Rock > Jam Bands > Bluegrass Jam Bands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Cool For Words, January 17, 2000

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Left of Cool (Audio CD)

His first release since the in-concert Live Art 2-CD set, Left of Cool continues Bela Fleck's genre-bending journey into finding innovative applications for the banjo. For the uninitiated, the banjo (at worst) is associated with the in-bred geek playing "Dueling Banjos" in Deliverance or (at best) it's still little more than an instrument for bluegrass music. This album (or any of the Flecktones other albums) will go a long way toward dispelling that myth.

I've always enjoyed Fleck's exceptional skill as a banjoist, whether it was in more traditional settings like Tasty Licks and New Grass Revival or his early solo work on the Rounder label. With the Flecktones he incorporates bluegrass, jazz and Third World rhythms to create a unique hybrid of these diverse styles. [There's even a couple of vocals by Dave Matthews--yes, THAT Dave Matthews.]

Put this in your CD player and get ready to be transported to a musical universe where Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe rule jointly with Miles Davis and John Coltrane. This has to be heard to be believed--amazing stuff! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eclectic collection of great music that defies labels., September 30, 1999

By 

John Heyrman (Berea, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Left of Cool (Audio CD)

Anyone musically open-minded enough to listen to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in the first place will be highly rewarded by listening to this album. Even more exciting and wide-ranging than most of their other albums, "Left of Cool" is a picture of a group of creative musicians who worry not a bit what you wish to label their music (jazz, bluegrass, rock, or whatever...) The album's highlights range widely from the catchy "Communication," with guest vocals from Dave Matthews, to the beautiful and meditative "Shanti." The Flecktones venture further into vocals than usual, but most of the album is still instrumentals, featuring Fleck's great banjo playing, as well as the outstanding rythym section. This group can jam in almost any format. Very highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Things you have not heard before., October 12, 2004

By 

Andrew Wagner "Drew" (Champaign, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Left of Cool (Audio CD)

If you are new to the flecktones, your first impression will probably be that it sounds a little like muzak due to the orchestration that usually involves a lot of saxophone and a lot of synthesized sounds. Soon, however, you will discover that this is some of the most varied and conceptually dense music you will ever listen to. Definately worth a buy.