Customer Reviews

Tales From the Acoustic Planet

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

 

 

Many years ago, I discovered Bela Fleck through his participation in "The Telluride Sessions," by Strength in Numbers, which is among my top 5 all-time favorite recordings. I try to look for recordings where two or more members of Strength in Numbers appear together, which are invariably satisfying listening experiences for me.

That is the case here, where Fleck is joined on various tracks by Strength members members Jerry Douglas (dobro), Edgar Meyer (string bass), and Sam Bush (mandolin). Fiddler/violinist Mark O'Conner is the only missing on this album, and the fiddling is beatifully covered here by Stuart Duncan. His other prominent guests, Tony Rice (guitar), Bruce Hornsby (piano), Chick Corea (piano), Branford Marsalis (sax), Victor Wooten (bass) and Future Man (percussion) need no further mention here.

Given the 1995 recording date of "Acoustic Planet," one gets a taste of where Fleck has been, with and without the Flecktones, but more importantly, in hindsight, one can see glimpses of where he was headed, most notably in his Flecktone recordings with Paul McCandless on reeds.

This type of recording would be any musician's dream, to be able to play some tunes with your friends and heroes. Fleck is one of those virtuosos who has been afforded that luxury. And he pulls it off beautifully here. It's a tasteful blend of folk, bluegrass, jazz, acoustic, blues and classical music. I agree that this album comes off as a complete work, and not just a collection of individual instrumentals. Highly recommended!

As a banjoist, this is my favorite Bela Fleck album that I own and frequently listen to. The music on this album is so unique that it cannot be classified within a single genre, but the most appropriate would probably be the umbrella genre of "jazz." My favorite tracks on this album are "Up and Running," "Three Bridges Home," "System Seven," and "Jayme Lynn." Many fusions of genres take place throughout this album with brilliant dynamics, emotion, and superb musicianship. The guests on this album are great, including Victor Wooten, Future Man, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Sam Bush. I also really enjoyed mandolinist Matt Mundy's playing on several tracks, whom I had never heard before. Bela takes all of his bluegrass buds and a couple of Flecktones along for this musical voyage. I think that these recordings capture some precious few moments of enlightened music and a significant event in the evolution of the banjo.

Tales From the Acoustic Planet is not only a great album musically but the songs in themselves are great as well. At times great musicians loose touch with the music and play a piece for the sake of the difficulty involved. Not so with Bela, he definitely hasn't lost touch with what makes a great song himself. He plays superbly and has fabolous musicians playing with him as well. I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys acoustic music. There is everything from Bluegrass to Jazz to Classical. Unbelievable album.

A simpler approach to a review.

I am not a musician and perhaps these long reviews have valid points. I could care less.

This is one of the most amazing Albums I've heard in years. In fact though there may be some "heady" way in which this album is missing elements that dissapoint those expecting something in particular. Well, take it from an ametuer who recognizes intricate talent when he sees it. Quit expecting. I've never heard an album like this before and I find it unmatched for it's purpose even among Bela's other works. I want more "Tales from the Acoustic Planet". Bluegrass is nice, this is something else. And it's at the top of my list.

Bela recruits an all-star cast (including Flecktones Vic Wooten and Future Man) for this album. The technical virtuosity of all the players is often overshadowed by the musicality of the compositions. Each track compliments the surrounding tracks, and instead of an album of individual songs, it comes across as a bigger work, a suite or symphony if you will.

It is easy to delve deeply into the music, studying its intracacies and nuances, but it is just as easy to use the album as light listening or background music.

With guest appearance (often on a number of tracks) by Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas and Bruce Hornsby among others, 'Tales from the Acoustic Planet' is sure to become a mainstay of your listening repertoire.

Be forwarned, though; don't expect the same attitude as a Flecktones album, but do expect the same high level of music.

An excellent example of what happens when an amazing musician gets to have the freedom to invite whomever he wants in to the studio. A great mix of funky and beautifully melodic tunes. If you like the 'tones do not pass this one up.

This album features some true instrumental monsters, namley Bela Fleck and Victor Wooten. But let us not forget the stellar contributions of Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Bruce Hornsby, Tony Rice, Mat Mundy, Sam Bush, Chick Corea, Future Man, Branford Marsalis....the list goes on. This is an extremley tasteful album, the songs are like classical arrangements with heavy infusions of jazz and bluegrass. It is a tantilizing combination that keeps you interested through out the entire album, from start to finish. I highly recomend this album along with Vol. 2 (which is much more bluegrassy, but still very good).

My favorite album of Bela's. The musicianship on this CD is absolutely SUPERB! There is no album that even touches this one. This album is less bluegrass and more folk/jazz. This cd has a very relaxed flare to it. It is very different from any other of his or the flecktones' works. The bowed bass featured here adds a very unique and gorgeous touch. I would not call myself a bela fleck fan if I did not own this CD. You will not be dissapointed.

I was introduced to Bela Fleck by a friend about 10 years ago. At first I was mainly obscessed with his bass player, Mr. Victor Lemont Wooten (as a side not if your a bass player of any skill level you should listen to Mr. Wooten play). Even after listening to Bela Fleck's music for over a decade it has only been recently that I started to "GET IT." Bela Fleck is truly a musical genius. He mixes bluegrass, classical, jazz, and finds a way to make it all fit with the lead instrument being a banjo... If you have never heard Bela Fleck before this CD is not a bad place to start.

This CD is loaded with great music, beautiful melodies, and rhythm that will make your head spin. There are guys who play in 7 and it sounds like their trying to play in 7, and there are guys who play in 7 and it's effortless (Bela makes it sound effortless). If you love Jazz, classical, bluegrass, or just music in general you should buy this CD. I don't like it as much as some of Bela's other material, but that's just my personal bias. This is a CD that has and will continue to get frequent trips into my CD player. Beautiful melodies, and awesome music. If you haven't heard Bela Fleck before (most of reading this have) you should also check out his music with "The Fleck Tones." Also his CD with Chick Corea titled "Enchanted" which is another must own in my humble opinion.

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.