Customer Reviews

Music for Two (Bonus DVD)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer are the unequivocal masters of their respective instruments, the banjo and the string bass, and have been such close friends for so long that a colloborative effort seems like a natural evolution of their ouvre. Indeed, the beauty of this disc is that the music does not get bogged down under the weight of their combined musical genius. On Music for Two, a Sony Classical release, Fleck and Meyer weave intricate tapestries of sound, combining straight classical transcriptions of Bach (the original classical virtuoso and arguably the touchstone for all of western music) with improvised tunes from their own repertoire. "Bug-Tussle" and "Pile Up" are upbeat, catchy newgrass charts that are heavy on the improv. "Blue Spruce" is a new-agey Flecktune featuring Bela in a semi-rare performance on the six-string guitar and Edgar on piano. "Wrong Number" pulls a fast one on the live audience, as an interrupting cell phone becomes an elaborate gag that is worked into the song itself. And the Bach transcriptions are not only 100% faithful, but 100% flawless. The added DVD only enhances the listening experience, as you get to see fingers and hands in action, making the virtuosity of Fleck and Meyer even more apparent. In the end, "Music for Two" proves that sometimes when you combine two musical talents of this caliber, one plus one equals MUCH more than just two.

As two of the most highly regarded technicians of their respective instruments, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer collaboration on "Music for Two" couldn't be anything less than inspiring. The duo exceed expectations by writing eloquent and evocative pieces. As I continue to listen to the album, their original compositions come to the fore as the marquee sections of the disc. The album could have been strengthened by shedding the veneer of classical music and relying solely on their original compositions.

Bela is uncanny in choices of excellent bassists. (Vic and Edgar) I heard that Victor joined Bela and Edgar for one of their concerts during their tour. I wish I had been there.

In concert, Bela and Edgar are consummate professionals. At times, their stirring music transported me of the concert hall and into a dreamlike state of memory-drenched bliss. Their music is at once amazingly ambitious, yet blessedly timeless. Here's hoping that they get together more often...

Anyone who appreciates quality music should own this album.

This is one of those albums that from the first moment you listen to it, you will be immediately hooked. It combines selections from Bach and other classical composers with completely original compositions by both Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. And, what makes the album really unique is the humorous interaction between the two musicians - and the audience! (Wait until you hear "Wrong Number".)

However, you won't really appreciate the depth of the album until you watch the bonus DVD. It's a documentary on how the two musicians worked together to perfect one of the album's selections ("Canon"). The filmwork was high-quality as was the recording of the album itself.

For the price, you won't find a better value in excellent musicianship and documentary. And, for the record you will be hardpressed to find two better musicians and composers living in this day and age.

Excellent recording by two innovators at the top of their game.....listen and be prepared to be blown away. The recording quality is superb.....I initially thought it was a studio recording until I heard the audience's response on the first cut. Highly recommended!

as a banjo playa and bluegrass fan that sometimes thinks that bela "noodles" a bit much, this album blows my mind. edgar and bela play with more power and authority than any ten metal bands, and their timing and dynamics are out of this world. i'm no fan of classical as such, but i found myself captivated by every song, and the fact that it's recorded live just adds to the awe factor. buy it now!!

How do I begin? Fans of Bela and Edgar are probably already familiar with this album. If you are familiar with it then hopefully you'll still find this review useful. I'm going to tailor my comments more to people who don't know as much about Bela and Edgar, or what's on this album. Because if you're already a fan, you most likely own this brilliant album, and you don't need me to convince you how amazing it is.

Let's start with a bit of background. Bela Fleck is a banjo player who is originally from New York. He has been playing professionally for over twenty years, and has long been considered one of the most talented banjo players (if not simply one of the greatest musicians) that has ever lived. Edgar Meyer is a similarly talented bassist who has been friends with Bela since the early 80's, when they were both involved in the New Grass Revival. Bela gained huge success with his band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. They have recorded many critically and commercially successful albums, all worth a good listen, as they are phenomenal musicians. Victor Wooten is THE most talented bassist I have ever seen. His brother Roy "Future Man" Wooten is a percussion pioneer, and Jeff Coffin is an immensely gifed saxophonist and flutist. Not that it impacts the recording I'm about to review, but I can say after personally meeting Bela and the Flecktones that they are as gracious and kind as they are talented. Again, not that this has any bearing on the quality of their music, but it makes me feel good to know that some musicians genuinely appreciate the support of their fans. Anyway, on to Bela and Edgar.

Bela and Edgar first collaborated on Perpetual Motion, a classical album released in late 2001. The idea of a banjo playing classical music might sound a bit strange at first, but after listening to the album, it becomes clear that it was meant to be. Which moves us on to this album, Music For Two, which was released about a week ago. This is a live album that chronicles Bela and Edgar's first tour together in 2002. The setlist contains a mixture of classical songs with originals written by Bela and Edgar. Bela and Edgar call it "a work in progress." Well, if that's the case I can't even imagine what the finished product could be. The level of musicianship on this album is astounding. Bela and Edgar are two masters of their craft. You can get an idea of how they work together by watching the included bonus DVD which was filmed by Bela's brother Sascha during the tour. As Bela and Edgar are both perfectionists, they sometimes clash of the direction of their music, but it's very clear to me that they are close friends who have a great respect for each other's talent. I applaud them for showing us such an honest portrayal of their relationship. I tend to shy away from naming personal favories on this album because I view it more as a whole than the sum of its parts. Having said that, I particularly enjoy hearing them cut loose on "Pile-up" and "Woolly Mammoth". "Canon" is truly an awe-inspiring auditory experience, and "Wrong Number" shows that Bela and Edgar also have a great sense of Humor.

Bela Fleck is impossible to classify. His music can be found in stores under jazz, bluegrass, classical, country, and several others. His work with Edgar Meyer is further proof of his willingness to transcend musical genres. Who else could have put a banjo to classical compasitions and pulled it of so flawlessly. Egdar Meyer brings an unmatched level of dediaction and precision to his instrument. It is a joy to hear the music that they produce together. Simply put, all fans of music should give this album a listen. It is a testament to the skill and creativity of the musicians involved. I'm very happy to see the partnership between Bela and Sony Classical continue to prosper. Hopefully we can expect to see more amazing music come our way in the years to come.

Give this album a try...you will not be disappointed!

I don't know what CD the last reviewer (June 25, 2004) listened to, but surly he got that confused with "Music for Two"!

Béla and Edgar, as always, has demonstrated their unequivocal wizardry on their instruments in this fine work. They've busted thier butts to get to where they are at now and it shows. Watch the DVD and see what they go through rehearsing the song "Cannon" during break from one of their shows and after, etc...

The track Woolly Mammoth is worth buying the entire album. Fabulous. I am only sad there aren't more albums like this. Maybe Bela Fleck will collaborate with the Black Keys next... BlakPic? Who would've thought BlakRoc would work.

This CD includes much of the music from Bela Fleck's road tour with Edgar Meyer. We heard them play in Easton, MD. The concert was excellent, and this CD captures their enthusiasm and playfulness in working together. "Woolly Mammoth" is especially interesting. I highly recommend this CD to any fan of either of these artists.

It is amazing that this is the first full album these two have made together. How do you put talent of this level into words? Not only do you have a wonderful live album, but it also comes with a great DVD 'documentary' of the tour, and more specifically, the song 'Canon' that Edgar wrote. It offers a kind of up close and personal look at the creative genius, and flaws, inside the heads of these two musical masterminds.