Rating: Summary: The Music Will Capture Your Heart. Review: I saw Bela Fleck live this past year for the first time and I immediately fell in love with the music from the first note. Then I was at a friend's house last month and watched the DVD for the first time and we watched it again last night. I do need to go out and get my own copy of the DVD so I can watch it at anytime. To say the music is pure magic and real love is a severe understatement. Bela's natural gift and love for the banjo shows. Bela and his band put so much love into every note they play. If you have the chance, go out and get that DVD and also see them live. This is one band who TRUELY loves what they do. Trust me, you will fall in love!
Rating: Summary: Hell yeah! Flecktones on DVD! Review: I saw the Flecktones live 2 years ago and it rocked, so this DVD will undoubtedly kick ass too! Their music is the greatest... the only thing it's missing is a cool trumpet player like me hahaha! Can't wait to see them live again later this year! Keep rockin' ya'll!
Rating: Summary: Amazing Show Review: I was at this show and it was amazing. The DVD captures it perfectly. Sandip Burman has to be seen to be believed. Victor Wooten is the best bass player on the planet. The rest of the band is off the hook as per usual.
Rating: Summary: Not a better bluegrass album exists Review: I was truly amazed at the reality of this DVD audio disk. And my DVD player isn't a DVD Audio player. I have never heard better bluegrass on any album and I used to play bluegrass on stage.
Rating: Summary: 5 - 1 = 5 Review: I would deduct a star for the lackluster quality of the video production and editing, but this disc doesn't deserve less than 5 stars.This band has gone so far beyond its component parts, its roots and influences, that they are shining a big bright spotlight into the future. It's a future where any genre, any sound, any ethnicity, any technology become simply part of an overarching musical language that the Flecktones have mastered and speak fluently. This snapshot of the band is a complete and satisfying experience, musically transcendant and sonically gorgeous (excellent 5.1 surround), even though is barely scratches the surface of what these musicians have done and continue to do. Nobody who appreciates this band should be without this DVD. It's too bad there weren't enough cameras. It's too bad the director never figured out how to point a camera at Future Man. It's too bad there are so many instances where the video crew couldn't seem to figure out who was soloing. It's too bad the disc has no option to skip the documentary segments between the songs. But these things simply make the video quality average for this sort of production. Fortunately, Bela was the music producer for the project, so it sounds perfect, and all of the performances are complete. I have a hard time imagining any music lover who wouldn't be stunned and amazed by this DVD. RichC
Rating: Summary: Worth it's weight in gold Review: I'm a music lover and have been playing and studying music (mostly acoustic/classical guitar) for roughly 15 years. 1 year ago, a friend of mine turned me on to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and my music life hasn't been the same. With their unbelieveable talent, ego-less/honest energy, selfless souls, sophisticated timings/melodies, and cohesiveness, the Flecktones stretch all barriers and boundaries. To truly understand the power of their music, look no further than the fans who love them. If you go to a concert, you will see elementary-aged kids, teenagers, black/white/whoever, young and old, rich and poor, truly enjoying, appreciating, and sharing the riveting experience that only they can provide. They can play and experiment in any style of music....jazz, bluegrass, funk, blu-bop (their own style), Hindi, you name it. They travel the world and soak in music from all regions. After they wring themselves dry, they create something eclectic and truly original. All 4 World-Class Flecktones brings something completely fresh and different to their instruments. One of my greatest surprises from these guys, is after the shows I've been to, they come out to meet/greet their fans. I've never before witnessed such amazing talent so egoless and down-to-earth. I'm shocked that more folks don't know about this group. I believe they choose not to be over-exposed by the media and take extra care to control the direction of their music and careers. This band is one of the hidden tresures of the world today. Don't take my word for it, check out this band! I guarantee music lovers won't regret it.
Rating: Summary: The most awesome music DVD in existence Review: I've just returned to Amazon to purchase 12 of these DVD's by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I will give them to friends and clients. The talent and genius of these guys is UNBELIEVABLE! Everyone I have played this DVD for can't pry themselves away from it. Buy another for a friend, you won't regret it.
Rating: Summary: Music doesn't come better than this Review: If there was a sixth star I would give it. Those who know Bela Fleck will only need to hear that this is as good as anything that he has ever done, with the added buzz of a live gig. For me, it really feels like being there. It is mainly material from Outbound, with many of the musicians (steel drums, tabla, english horn etc.) who were on that album, also present on stage. This means that you get an added richness and inspiration on top of the expected brilliance of the four basic Flecktones. If you don't already know who Bela Fleck is, and why he keeps getting grammies, then what can I tell you? This is music-making at its most inspiring. A bunch of musicians who leave their egos at home, who play for each other, get off on each other, inspire each other, have fun doing it, and give audiences a really good time. The music is unclassifiable. This is something I like greatly - there are no boundaries, and the inspiration and freedom that result has a purity which is rarely found. Brilliant individual instrumentalists who can contain their individuality in order to fuse together. I play these guys to all sorts of people, and watch jaws drop, eyes light up or start to water. If you haven't tried the Flecktone experience yet, this DVD is as good a place to start as any (and after that check out Live Art, Ufo Tofu and Bela's early acoustic stuff on Telluride Sessions). For me it is a privilege to be on the planet at a time when I can get this stuff - as exciting as being in Vienna at the time of Mozart would have been. Just so you know where I am coming from, I am fifty years old, and a former semi-pro classical french horn player, so this enthusiasm is not some teenage fan thing, and it has some musical experience behind it. I do not give such praise lightly or easily. So do yourself a favour. Check it out!
Rating: Summary: Flecktacular!!! Review: If you like Bela Fleck you're going to love this video. I've followed Bela since around 1984. I remember seeing him in a spontaneous jam session at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas around that time. What amazing technical ability! Since then I've seen his career and musicianship evolve into something truly unique, as this video reveals. Talk about eclectic! Bela & Co. throw in everything but the kitchen sink in this performance. From bluegrass to jazz to funk to Tuvan "throat singing" to the Indian tabalas to African singing ... and then there's my favorite piece - Bela Fleck's banjo solo rendition of Bach's Partida III Preludio in E Major. Incredible! Between the performances you get to see members of the band in their daily activities, like Victor Wooten (bass) performing card tricks, or Bela and his mentor Tony Trischka doing the "double banjo" trick. The videography is excellent, the audio is great, and the editing is slick. This is first class all the way. My only disappointment is that they didn't play "Sinister Minister" which is my favorite Flecktone number. But then, nobody asked me for my input.
Rating: Summary: The Best Review: Improvisational music in many genres done so well you will never tire of hearing it.
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