Prelude from Partita No. 3 for Solo Violin (BWV 1006)
Intro
Hoedown
Béla Fleck's music is a three-ring circus of stylistic outreach, rooted in folk musics from around the globe, yet tethered to an American improviser's sensibility. Here, the composer and banjo virtuoso is captured in ... more »full flight at a concert venue with his core band of collaborators, the Flecktones, featuring multi-reedman Jeff Coffin and the charismatic Wooten Brothers, bassist Victor and percussionist Roy (better known as Futureman). The emotional and technical range the Flecktones routinely explore is showcased in a series of adventurous solo spots: Futureman's sampled percussion and evocations of African vocal traditions on "Ovombo Summit"; Victor's rapid-fire percussive techniques and masterful use of harmonics in a moving improv based on "Amazing Grace"; and Béla's crystalline adaptation of the prelude from Bach's Violin Partita No. 3. Better yet, Fleck augments his presentation with a Justice League of America-styled cabal of master musicians, who, like himself, push the envelope on instruments all too infrequently represented in jazz. Thus, we experience Andy Narell's lithe, sparkling steel drum harmonies on the Americana-inflected pathways of Béla's "Big Country" and on his gorgeous solo turn, "Interlude"; Paul McCandless's airborne, lyric oboe on the reggae changes of "Lover's Leap"; the funky facility of Paul Hanson on "Scratch and Sniff" (as he transforms his bassoon with wah-wah effects until it suggests a synthesizer); and the uncanny emotional impact of Tuvan throat singer Kongar-ol Ondar, who trumps any synth player you've ever heard through his use of multiphonics in the Mongolian vocal tradition. --Chip Stern« less
Béla Fleck's music is a three-ring circus of stylistic outreach, rooted in folk musics from around the globe, yet tethered to an American improviser's sensibility. Here, the composer and banjo virtuoso is captured in full flight at a concert venue with his core band of collaborators, the Flecktones, featuring multi-reedman Jeff Coffin and the charismatic Wooten Brothers, bassist Victor and percussionist Roy (better known as Futureman). The emotional and technical range the Flecktones routinely explore is showcased in a series of adventurous solo spots: Futureman's sampled percussion and evocations of African vocal traditions on "Ovombo Summit"; Victor's rapid-fire percussive techniques and masterful use of harmonics in a moving improv based on "Amazing Grace"; and Béla's crystalline adaptation of the prelude from Bach's Violin Partita No. 3. Better yet, Fleck augments his presentation with a Justice League of America-styled cabal of master musicians, who, like himself, push the envelope on instruments all too infrequently represented in jazz. Thus, we experience Andy Narell's lithe, sparkling steel drum harmonies on the Americana-inflected pathways of Béla's "Big Country" and on his gorgeous solo turn, "Interlude"; Paul McCandless's airborne, lyric oboe on the reggae changes of "Lover's Leap"; the funky facility of Paul Hanson on "Scratch and Sniff" (as he transforms his bassoon with wah-wah effects until it suggests a synthesizer); and the uncanny emotional impact of Tuvan throat singer Kongar-ol Ondar, who trumps any synth player you've ever heard through his use of multiphonics in the Mongolian vocal tradition. --Chip Stern
"The Flecktones are unique. There is no other way to describe them. Just look through all the reviews of their albums. Live Art. Live at the Quick. Left of Cool. UFO TOFU. Outbound. Little Worlds. Just look at any of these albums and reviews and you'll realize they're always 5 stars. There is a reason. These guys are not only technically fantastic. They are original, inventive, beautiful, fascinating...and you'll find yourself humming the tunes over and over again and playing them constantly in your car. Big Country, Blu-Bop, Sherpa, Puffy...all of us Flecktone-heads can tell you all the tunes but this isn't slickly produced fluff for the mass market. It's difficult,complicated, engaging, interesting stuff. It attracts followers who stick like glue. I've gone to a couple of concerts since discovering him and they are just like the albums. Incredible. Fun. Worth every penny. His music is sort of like classical music for the jazz set. Fleck can improvise and make music with the best of them and attracts Chick Corea, Branford, Hornsby, Derek Trucks, Edgar Meyer, Even Josh Bell and John Williams (the guitarist, not the conductor although he probably has a gig with the Boston Pops in his future if he wants it. He goes way out with Indian, African, Chinese, it must be a hoot to tour with them because they are always trying new stuff and making music from the most unlikely sources.
One final note. Get the DVD Live at the Quick watch it and after you are blown away, loan it to all your friends. I gave it to my brother as a Christmas present last year and found it that it has been passed around his kids school, even the choir director at the school has picked up on it and is doing numbers with Tuvan throat singing!! you have to get the DVD to see what I mean. Every bass player has probably worn it out trying to figure out how Victor does all that weird stuff.
Get this CD and DVD and become a Flecktone fan if you want to see and hear great music by an original. Now read the rest of those 5 star reviews."
Amazing Talented Musicians Here People
Boulleeboo | 02/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You absolutely must get this CD. It is incredible, the musicians are so talented and the music flows greatly with a very weird sound that is cool if you are into Bela, check it out fans, 5 STARS!"
Improvisation at its Best
Boulleeboo | Saint Louis | 08/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"`Live at the Quick' is a snapshot taken of a band with all pistons firing. While most people wouldn't necessarily think of a banjo as an explosive instrument, Bela Fleck makes it so. Of course, he can also make it sound so delicate that you think it might just collapse in his hands. The same can be said for the virtuoso bass playing of Victor Wooten, quite possibly the most gifted musician I have ever heard play live (Fleck is another contender). This is a terrific addition to any music collection, particularly if you are interested in improvisation and modern variations on traditional music."
Take that, Dave Matthews Band!
Private Quentin Tarantino Fan | nowhere | 02/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"True, I don't really care for live albums, but this album (produced by Fleck himself) doesn't sound like it was recorded in a cave (you know the usual sound, just check out Live). It's still crystal clear, well balanced, and smooth. That's a great thing, but you still get the live atmosphere on top of that. Granted, you can't expect music like this to have the wildness of a rock concert, so they won't pump you up. Eh, just listen, it's not that important compared to the actual playing.
Okay, for those of you not familair of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, it consists of Bela Fleck (Banjos. He even has a sythnesizer banjo, as he calls it), Jeff Coffin (reeds), Futureman (Synth-axe drumitar. Just check out the thing!), and Victor Wooten (bass). What you heard is true, these guys can do very difficult things on their instruments. They are mega skilled, and Victor Wooten, just watch some clips of this guy. If you think he has zero talent, you are musically retarded. Listen to him talk about music as well. Enough of their skills, the music is what's important.
All the songs on here are blends of all kinds of styles. I like the way that Big Country is a eight minute soundtrack for my imagination to fly over forests, deserts, oceans, and fields of America. There's even some vocals on here, Alash Khem and A Moment So Close feature throat singing, with Futureman singing lyrics! Earth Jam has Victor Wooten doing...something, and the intro before Hoedown does too, though I have no idea what it is. They all sound great, and these voices aren't touched up, sang without any voice enchancers. Joining them are a lot of musicians, so you got more than just Bela Fleck? Still not convinced? See below!
If your wondering whether to get this or it's studio counterpart (Outbound), I say get this. I don't know, it's just more exciting, but to be fair, I haven't heard that album. You don't need to worry about owning both, because the sound quality in this one isn't a drawback compared to a studio album. Oh the cd is on DVD as well: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Live at the Quick. But it is (See comment box!) Fun stuff indeed, great energy and vibe. Some of these songs take me back to big country fields, and some let me fly through space, and other stuff. Reccomended!