Live Art [Live]

Bela Fleck | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 1996)
• Original Release Date: September 10, 1996
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002N7R
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,622 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Rock > Jam Bands > Bluegrass Jam Bands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Near Perfection., May 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Live Art (Audio CD)

I don't care who you are or what kind of music you listen to, this CD will simply blow you away. I have been lucky enough to see The Flecktones in concert and I can honestly say, these two disks perfectly capture their live sound and feel. The musicianship is absolutly top knotch. I thought I knew what good bass playing was until I heard Victor. There's no doubt in my mind that he is the worlds most knowledgeable and innovative bassist. Just listen to his solo in Sinister Minister. You'll never find a better (or nicer) bass player. And Bela, his furious runs up and down scales and uncanny ability to play exactly the right note at exactly the right time is unmatched. These two, along with a slew of other unbelievable muscians, come together in perfect sink to pull of these amazing and, at times very emotional tunes. I'd recommend this to any one who has ears!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY THIS ALBUM AND GO TO A SHOW!, September 20, 2001

By 

Andrew Kim (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Art (Audio CD)

Where do I even start? This is as good as live albums get. This captures the energy and fun of a Flecktones show perfectly. The cuts on here contain some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard in my life.

New South Africa opens the disc with a melody that is executed in such a buoyant manner that it can seemingly lift you into a good mood. The musical interplay between the band (and equally skilled guests) is displayed with the very next and rousing playful track, Stomping Grounds.

The album just gets better from there. With incomprehensibly complex songs like UFO TOFU, a bit of Beatles fun with Oh! Darling (which features jaw dropping vocals from John Cowan), Sam Bush ripping it up on the violin on Big Foot, and amazing solos by bass God, Victor Wooten, and Bela Fleck, this album has much to offer.

Guests like Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Paul McCandless, Bush and others also show how well the Flecktones challenge themselves and how ego free the band is.

There are wonderful melodies that are technically and emotionally superb all across these two discs. All you have to do is listen to Sinister Minister to understand just how good this band is. This is toe-tapping, hum along music that covers almost every kind of music imaginable. Your mouth will be agape when it isn't smiling. This is one of the greatest albums ever from one of the best bands out there today.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing live album!!, November 12, 2000

By 

J. Sutherland "zeppfan" (Southport, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live Art (Audio CD)

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones embark on a musical journey throughout this entire album and cordially invite you to join them. There musical style ranges from bluegrass tunes to jazz, classical, and celtic tunes. You can't describe their music using traditional descriptions because their music draws from so many influences creating a scope of sound that is very unique. There is hardly any singing on this album except for a few tracks so it is something different, but each musician Bela, Vic, Sam, and Future man, are such accomplished live players that they use their instrument as their voice and they can express a great deal more. My favourite tracks are Bigfoot, Stomping Grounds, Shubee's Doobie and Early Reflection. This last track "Early Reflection" is a solo by Bela Fleck that shows how he has mastered his instrument by going from a classical piece to the theme from "The Beverly Hillbillies." And it sounds awesome! Some of the other songs I like because of the beautiful arrangements and hramonies the players create. After listening to this album anything else I put into my CD player sounded musically much more simple in comparison. This band is a LIVE improvisational band and on this album their skills are on fine display for anyone who wants to broaden their musical horizons. If your a fan of bluegrass, jazz, celtic, classical, or just a fan of live improvisational music I highly recommend buying this album. And if you don't know about Bela Fleck's "style" of music this is a great inroduction. This is an incredible album you won't regret buying it!