Customer Reviews

Live Art

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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!

First of all I believe Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are some of the best musicians playing today, and their live interaction on Live Art is almost telepathic.
For my peronal tastes though, their music tends to lean just a bit too much towards what I call "happy jazz" - in other words, despite being extremely well played, the music seems to just meander with little tension or bite. Not something you'd likely hear in an elevator - it does jam - but it does not rock.
The one real exception in my opinion is the 5th track "Bigfoot" which builds to an amazing level of intensity. It starts off with the most beautiful folk-celtic banjo line which returns throughout the song, but in between features excellent solos by everyone in the group, and believe me this track does rock. This is one of the best instrumental peices I have ever heard - I love it. Honestly, this is the only track I "listen" to on the recording, the rest I have play for background. I would have gladly bought "Libe Art" for Bigfoot alone.
Finally, the music is exceptionally well recorded despite the fact that it is live. I think that many people will find lots to enjoy on Live Art.

I believe this to be the best CD ever produced. For a while I would listen to it every single day of my life. Track 3 of Disc 1 (Stomping Grounds) is particularly amazing, along with the Track 1 of Disc 2(Improv/Amazing Grace), which is a bass solo by Victor Wooten. One would think that almost 7 minutes of just one guy playing an electric bass would start to get redundant, but it never does, Wooten (as well as every other musician) has mastered his instrument in a manner which is rarely seen in the musical world these days. Even though I love the studio CDs produced by Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, the energy and power of the music pale in comparison to the energy generated by the live performances. If you purchase one Jazz or Bluegrass CD from the 1990s, this is the one to buy!

I think anyone, regardless of what type(s) of music they usually listen to, could appreciate this CD--it incorporates so many different styles. At least it's been my experience that you don't often hear artists include banjo, piano, fretless-funk-bass, soprano-sax, and mandolin all in the same song.

Every musician on this album is extremely talented. This album is fun to listen to and at the same time will amaze you. It is recorded VERY well. At times you'll forget you're listening to a live album, and not something produced in a studio.

All of the tracks are great. My favorites are: New South Africa, Bigfoot, Oh Darling, Sunset Road, More Luv, Early Reflection..., Cheeseballs in Cowtown, and The Sinister Minister.

This one is almost never leaves the CD player. Buy it, you won't regret it.

This 2-CD set plainly shows where Bela and his merry troupe shine: on the live stage. Compiled from different years, this set provides a nice sampling of the Flecktones and their repertory throughout the years.

If you're interested in checking out this band and you won't be able to catch them live in the near future, get this CD set. It's not a substitute for the real thing, but it will blow your mind until the show. You can't find a better introduction to the band on CD.

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.

This has to be one of my favorite live CDs I have. It is really refreshing to hear this stuff live even if you own all of the studio CDs the Flecktones have made. Unlike many other bands, these guys always change things up during each live event. Each song during every concert is never played the same way...not only does that keep it fresh for the listener, I'm sure it also keeps it fresh for the Flecktones.

If you are interested in starting to listen to these guys, their first few CD's (which is what this CD encompasses) and this one are well worth their money if you are interested in unique music. They play beautifully during slower songs and absolutely jam during faster ones. There are plenty of odd time signatures to keep the people who like to count busy...always in sync with eachother through the most complicated passages.

I started out being a fan of bass guiter. Victor Wooten on here is absolutely mind boggling. This, I would have to say, is one of his better performances since he seems a little free to roam with the live environment letting it all hang out at points. There are also a few guest musicians scattered throughout the disc to keep the flavor changing. Really fun stuff!

i'm a fusion/metheny/rippingtons/corea fan...being bored with much of todays music happened to purchase this cd after reading some reviews...now own about 6 of their cd's...this was the first one i purchased and i think overall my favorite. if you have any interest in jazz/fusion/bluegrass/or a mixture of all 3 i would highly advise giving this group and in particular this cd a try...you won't be disappointed.