Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

"Live at the Quick"

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a primarily instrumental group from the United States, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion, and jazz, sometimes dubbed “blue-bop.” The band formed in 1988, initially to perform once on the PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) series Lonesome Pine Specials. The Flecktones have toured extensively since then, often playing over 200 concerts per year.

I came.

This is one hell of an album. Instrumental Bluegrass Jazz, sounded like a paradox, but my mind was blown all over the IRC channel. Wicked bass solos, crazy banjoes, and some wacky foreigner is what you will find within the hidden treasure of Live at the Quick.

The intro to Live at the Quick gave me the same feeling Get Color (HEALTH), and again I was proven wrong. "Earth Jam" and "Zona Mona" pick up and get you going. The bass solo on "Amazing Grace" was literally out of this world, it seemed humanly impossible how that guy was going on (Then Hawk tells me he came play some of it ). After that, you hit the 8-minute ear-sex parade "Big Country" which is the pinnacle of this album. Then to end it, you finish with "Hoedown". I compare it to a classic Free-Birdish type ending to this live album.

From top to bottom, it sounds like I turned this review into a sandwich and I could eat that sandwich all day. [/cheesy]

The cons, if any, was the track "Alash Khem". It literally sounded like a foreigner taking a dump (DEAD SERIOUS), and every time I hear it, I cry of laughter. The only other track I had an issue listening to was "Scratch & Sniff" which wasn't a big deal, it just didn't seem like it ran together well for me.

FAVORITE TRACKS: Ovombo Summit, Amazing Grace, Big Country, Hoedown.

DISLIKED TRACKS: Alash Khem.

RATING: 9.5/10