Bela Fleck--Freeborn Man--Tony Rice--All- Star Jam

[surfmost]

few can pull it off, and there friends know it.



[garymichael1950]

As a person who is proud to have a rather extensive vocabulary..all I can say is  Uhhhh, Wow!

[JaySFaires]

I loved the mandolin player's face after Tony's first solo. What a lineup of talent

[garymichael1950]

@JaySFaires You're so right ! I bought a mandolin yesterday and will A) learn to play it at least as good as that! OR B)..set it on fire! Anybody got a match?

[JaySFaires]

@garymichael1950 When I saw Tony Rice with Mountain Heart I felt like just never touching the guitar again. haha

[Gipple02]

What I wouldn't give to hear Tony sing live again.

[SamuraiMitsukai]

This is both amazing and makes me never want to pick my guitar up again.

[teakbridge101]

Love the description..."banjo."

[justkaron]

This sizzles! Dang! Smokin' hot! Can't quit watching this.

[MKflo84]

Indeed...respect.

[lekoize]

4:12 :D

[kbomber12]

I have no words, only respect.

[mark1964boss]

Is that a young Jerry Douglas on the dobro???

[handy335]

@mark1964boss ..You bet!! That's Jerry Douglas all day long. There's probably no Bluegrasser that he hasn't picked/jammed with .

[lazyman300Mph]

My sweet God !!

What a awesome melody !!!!

and the solos.....perfect feeling...perfect

Hats off Tony and hats off Units and Béla Flack !!!

[WyattD18]

This was an amazing show (I followed that guy all over since the mid-70's. Too bad Tony has developed arthritis and a vocal condition, as he has a wonderful voice. Also too bad Merlefest has become like Disneyworld.......back in 88-92 or so, you could camp and walk over to the festival and sit in the lawn chair you left overnight.

[nicknashlaws]

im gonna get bush,rice,douglas n oconner some of them mel bay books

[handy335]

@nicknashlaws ..Yer killin' me!! HAW!! Good one!

[MrBryancobbs]

4:15 - try top that fagface

[tomwallace10856]

@MrBryancobbs you suck at life

[tomwallace10856]

nobody will EVER play like Tony was able to play those years...

[jltei]

Top of the top players,how lucky we are to watch these incredible musicians here on YT!Thanks for sharing!

[strawman8]

Yeah.........is this bluegrass pickin or what......awesome talent !!!

[EduCatalinas]

Que lo parió!

[dlsimon212]

The top players for each of the instruments in bluegrass music,, and to these guys, they're just jamm'n,,, no big deal to them, just everyday fun!

[MsTanzmaus]

Holy cow, this is awesome!!!!!!!

[n2pickn]

Thanks for posting this! Good gosh what a performance! And they were all enjoying this. Love to watch Tony watch the others as they take a break.

[derekchase6507]

Really who are the 4 who disliked this? 

[commanderjesussaves]

4:10

[tinian33]

watch?v=7yPyIduOy0U&feature=re­lmfu

[Sprawl1GuitarMan]

Ahh, yes. Bluegrass at its' finest. Nothing like the sound. These boys are ripping it up! Love it

[Gipple02]

@giantrobot9000 It's called syncopation, a tactic Clarence White is known for. Tony takes a great portion of his style (as well as his guitar) from Clarence.

[youpididli]

Great video! Incredible line-up! The Mandolin player put on a great show !! WOW!...violin?....yeah right!...those lines are crazy!...well, everybody in that video is on top of their game...

[mandobanjoguitar]

what a lineup, awesome video!

[theblastbeatman]

Haha, that was incredible. :) Tony so used like some diminished up in thurr lol

[figgskzoo]

Tony at 1:41 - even Sam had to throw down a big smile at that ride - damn!

[therealrandcamp]

Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and Bela Fleck.

Kinda says it all.

...

[apologies to the bass player; bluegrass is cruel that way]

[mandotodd]

I guess when you are THIS good you don't have to think about what your outfit is going to look like with the rest of the group. Only Sam Bush looks like he didn't put on something "special" for the gig.

[figgskzoo]

@mandotodd - he put his mando on - good enough for me.

[strawman8]

That is as good as I heard Tony Rice play.What an awesome group.Thanks so much for posting.

[MisterSchlomah]

That has got to be the most tasteful fiddle break I have ever heard!

[justkaron]

@MisterSchlomah That's cause that would be Mr. Mark O'Conner.

[Halliday7895]

best bluegrass video on the youtubes!

[rustytruck66]

who is the mandolin player?

[alexanders558]

@rustytruck66 The mandolin player is Sam Bush.

[ELSOL102]

@alexanders558 Sam Bush is amazing!

[rjfudd]

how can 3 people dislike this?

[GerBear]

That steal guitarist has such awesome FEEL!

[NooGods]

Yup... Tony, Sam, Mark, Bela... and Jerry make quite the "super-group" to say the very least. Savor this one folks, this kind of amazing, blazing talent is rare for sure in any individual, but all together?

It's like Haley's Comet... just be thankful you saw it in your lifetime... and enjoy the Cosmic Journey!

[sweetpickles87]

AMAZING!

[fngrpkn06]

Whew! Smokin'!

[andersingram]

this makes me happy !

[rocmaven]

Tony Rice comes to the watseka theatre watseka illinois on may 7, 2011

[ringmaster5252]

Unbelievable energy on that tune. It would be great if these guys could tour again as a group.

[Doorsfan1214]

Tony has toatally lost his voice and aint too good at all sad to say. I don;'t know bout SAm and Jerry. Probably at a warm bluegrass festival. Knowing them boys. The crazy one has to be Wyatt Rice. That man is a firecracker!

[dollyandjohn]

Where is Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas today? How about Tony Rice's health?

And all you need in this group is David Grisman to round it out...but then of course,

it really doesn't get any better than this...but if so, please advise.

[drdhdc00]

If you look up Bluegrass in the dictionary, this will pop up!

[agtalbot]

Absolutely some of the most gifted musicians ever!!!

[oldloaf]

Just...freaking...incredible! It don't get any better!

[jagvocate]

Flawless victory

[Basspickerpmw]

"That Dobro Player" is the Great Jerry Douglas

[sjwilson1698]

@Basspickerpmw Amen Brother ! that Dobro player is the greatest.....Jerry Douglas, Must be a steel guitar backstage LOL

[finbarmaginn]

@sjwilson1698 he's brilliant, a sow him on a t.v show called transatlantic sessions, they can be good but he's pretty cheesy in it

[SamanthaGetHyphy]

If Sam plays that mandolin any faster I swear the strings are gonna spontaneously combust.

[TheGhostofGeddyLee]

awesome full jean outfit on the dobro player. but it doesnt even matter cuz hes so cool

[damhippy69]

this is the accoustic allstars lineup isn't this?

[mfebu]

Sam Bush is on the mandolin

[CaptainFreddyStig]

who is on the mandolin?



[hochbob]

It doesn't get any better!!

[toobie11]

I really enjoy all the innovative stuff Bela Fleck does, but when he's bluegrassing I cant turn away for a second!

[niallwhite1969]

This is by far the best bluegrass ensemble ever.

[aliwhitwell]

Just don't get any better than this! Awesome.

[boxxx010]

tony rice- one of the best acoustic guitar players probably ever. sam bush- everyone should have as much fun playing as he does. bela fleck- could totally pass for my uncle rick

[the2became4]

monsters all!!!

[mnminear]

Hahaha @gratefullybred

[CuttyMonsta]

Even my black ass had to tip my hat. For those out there that think they that they've mastered their instrument....how do you feel about that now?

[jonrittmann]

right on the money- i agree 1000 percent !

[gratefullybred]

tony rice sports that mullet with such impeccable style..

[danimal32781]

THAT is some smokin' grass



[danimal32781]

THAT is some smokin' grass

[Sambob33]

just the best

[jvictor0]

this group wins

[lgomez222]

Greatest bluegrass configuration of all time! Jimmy Martin would be proud!

[GrobmotorikJones]

ach du scheiße.

[kobayashimaru1]

Is it just me or Tony looks much like Robert Patrick (actor), or vice versa, of course?

[lovinSpoonful]

I LOVE SAM BUSH!!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  Love his mandolin too! The whole thing is AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!!

[tambour2007]

That fiddle........................­...

[colm841]

Truly fantastic !!!!

[anuschkamuza]

bella is boring for me, sorry

[bluegrassjtb]

@anuschkamuza

Bela is one of the best banjo players alive, plus he fits really well with Tony, Sam, Flux, Mark, and Mark o conner. You should listen to The flecktones, they are amazing!

[loggyness]

Love Bela's playing to death, total skill but in my opinion it would be awesome if J.D Crowe Got up there and played that song with them, I remember him burning that one up looong time ago

[SunSue2]

Dream Team of Bluegrass musicians, for sure.

[NooGods]

IMPECCABLE, peerless pickin' by some absolute legends of bluegrass, roots music! SOmeone remarked how difficult this genre is... he/she is spot on. I would say jazz and bluegrass greats have much in common: musical genius.

[tinian33]

@NooGods

Check out this blistering jazz picking rendition of "I'll See You In MY Dreams":

watch?v=aTK_UToAYXY

[jjbb81]

I think i'm just gonna put my guitar back in the case...LOL Bluegrass players are the best pickers out of any music genre. I would say this is probably the most difficult of all genres.

[concretejungle80cruz]

wow check out how young bela and jerry douglas look! Also, tony with a voice!!!

These guys are smoking!

[FrankenPengie]

Phuk Rome! All roads lead to BLUEGRASS!

[heatgap]

fucking amazing....

[otisflywheel420]

Smokin!!!

[rolyat60003]

Here's some pickin from the best!!

[bdichiro]

this is music at its finest!!!!!!!!!!!

[owsleyforkmusic]

Who is on bass?

[Couperboy]

@owsleyforkmusic its mark shatz on bass

[Mockingbird5150]

Best Video on YouTube!

[FenceThis]

just about the ultimate lineup one by one, and they blend perfectly fluid together like whiskey and water ( dont try at home )

[spelingmaster]

Mark O'Connor is the most talented musician alive. I don't think I've ever heard that guy play a bad note.

[giantrobot9000]

Tony Rice (and all of these guys) are out of this world. On Tony's second solo, at first listen it seems like he looses timing on some of his licks, but if you listen again you can hear exactly how he's just phrasing differently than most people expect to hear. He's keeping it interesting, and that's really cool.

[bones2900]

In these days of musicians shredding their instruments, it is wonderful to see some guys who can play. These guys just don't play though, they render me speechless!

[retropicker]

Bela must have had a bad night. He's pretty off.

[OhBeeg1BanjoV]

@retropicker - tough to keep those bluegrass-style chops up when the last "bluegrass" album he made was in '84 with "Drive" :)

[kellough248]

@retropicker Bela is with a bunch of badasses so he can't stand out as he normally does

[Subrosa2222]

Sam, Jerry, Tony, Mark, Bela, Mark......heck we can just as easily refer to them all by their first name....what does that say :) Sam always impresses!!!

[TheMrCompletely]

This appears to be from the Merle Watson Memorial Bluegrass Festival (now called "MerleFest") in 1992 which was filmed for PBS and released as a 10 part documentary called "Pickin' for Merle." I was in attendance, and not only was it easily the best bluegrass festival I have seen out of dozens, this allstar jam was the musical highlight rather easily. Thank you very much for posting it!

[procarpenter1788]

It doesn't get any better than this.

[nineveh420]

@procarpenter1788 no it don't! :)

[runvjc]

Have a little hillbilly, kick ass style.

[whatdaheck5]

"always loved the girl next-door but anywhere is home."

[cadet58j]

All of these guys are awesome. Bela Fleck is a banjo virtuoso...he has done all that can be done with a banjo and gets "smoked" by no one.

[SyntagmaStation]

the cat on the dobro smokes them all!

[murphy2034]

You go Jerry you are the best dobro player ever!!

[torch9t9]

Rare footage from back in the day, when they would all get on the same stage together....

[istdercollen]

@4:15, he's pretty much thinking.. "yeah,I just played that motherfucker, what you got next?"

[flatpicker15]

@istdercollen ha, and the jerry showed him exactly what he had next. these guya are amazing and jerry and tony were just made to play alongside each other

[Godsfaithfulservant]

Nothing better than a good dobro player.

[Raelven]

Brilliant, thanks for sharing!

[94757598494309438]

Durn right Tony's got him a Martin Guitar.

One with and extra Large sound hole that belonged to Clarence White.

And he knows how to play it too!

[TheGibsonlover]

ev eryone was sick, but my favorite there has to be Sam Bush! Wahooo!!!

[nacoutchi]

woh woh woh I love it <3

[101Volts]

I like it.

[Mickyfyn]

The best in the business - awesome!!!!

[lacigsx]

Zsir, patent !! :)

Holy God, Great music !

[coleyman1]

WOW!!! Douglas, O'conner, Fleck, Rice, Bush--WOW!!!

[bassplayerdp]

thought I heard some django around 3:59

[bjosh37]

Folks, that is the best in the world all on one stage! Simply awesome!

[onderbroek88]

@ 2:50

HOW METAL CAN YOU BE at such a small instrument... i love that^^

[tactteam00]

if i could have a theme band follow me around all day, they would be it.

[GuitarSmoker0205]

Sam bush one of the best there is

[surrealsorel]

Yey Bela!!!!

[374250rex]

Bela Fleck is scary good ... Did he sell his soul at the cross roads....?????

[slickrick134]

i just started to tab out the second banjo solo!

nasty son.

[demando3342]

4:10 to 4:16 Sam's reaction to the jazz lick and TR's look over the shoulder. Nasty son.

[nasty5oh]

TRUTH

[Subrosa2222]

Amazing, the equivalent of the1950 Yankees on stage at the same time!! Wish I had the words to describe the significance. Sam Bush at ~2:35!! Nearly makes me believe in a god! Thanks fellas!!

[Rjc0316]

bela looks too much like neil young in this video.. not good

[hookfooot]

Hello,

This was written by Mark Lindsay and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. It appears on the Alias Pink Puzz album. It has become such a bluegrass classic that it has been attributed to many others. Check out the original.

[penwok]

Great "Outlaws" Cover!

[chirfu]

pretty sure Jimmy Martin... Glen Campbell.... and Hank Williams Sr, all played this before the Outlaws did it but still a great song!

[dorian411]

Yeee haaa!!!! O'Connor and Rice !!! The very best!!!

[wankatronic]

and the look on tony's face at 4:15 is priceless

[sometimehuh]

lol for sure. He's like, "Now watcha gotta say about that son?" Or at least thats what i would have him say in my mind. Killls it

[wankatronic]

i dont remember who wrote it- it might have been somewhere in the comments for another Tony Rice vid, but i liked how they pointed out that Tony keeps ballpoint pens in his jacket pockets. classy as all hell, that guy. and one firestorm of a picker to boot.

[wankatronic]

oh my god, thats bela fleck? hahaha that just makes him all the more awesome in my mind knowing not all mulleted men in the eighties were shredding guitars.

[popoaggie]

I love how everyone critiques these guys. Ya know, at most of the festivals I see them perform, they are very approachable. Why not snag them after their set and sit down with them and show them how it's done. I'm sure Tony would love for a total stranger to show him how to improve his technique.

[BroughamConspiracy]

Hells Yeah! Thanks Mom and Dad for being folkies and dragging me out to see all those crazy musicians doin' crazy stuff so that I end up touring with punk and metal bands for 10 years. Truer words were never spoken my friend. I love Bluegrass, Tony Rice and Bela and Freeborn Man, but love most especially Tony's raging hockey hair! Rock the f&*k on!

[BlackStratCat]

That is some goooooooood Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.... thanks for the post.

[birdstuckinchimney]

Q: If you threw a mandolin and a banjo ioff a cliff, which would hit the ground first

A: Who the hell cares, just do it!

[dingadang]

Uh, Ok.

[wankatronic]

probably you, dude, because Sam Bush and Bela Fleck would use their godlike skills to catch the instruments in question and, with their powers combined, play a solo that ejected you from the edge of said cliff.

[birdstuckinchimney]

Oh yeah...I never thought of that :-)

[purplerocks72]

Man your fiddle playing is really HOT!

[debzeppeliniv]

Back in the 60s my Mom and friend used to drag me to a place in Pa, to the bluegrass shows, bein a kid, I didn't know I was seeing all the bluegrass greats live, Bill Monroe, Reno and Smiley, Osbornes, you name it, lol, she paved the way for my roving later on to all the rock shows. Thanks Mom,

[liraple]

who is on mandolin?

[banjoec]

Sam Bush

[funability1]

Holy fast bag of trix and lix batman!

[diptanshu]

classic sam bush! woa

[synesthesia67]

mortals must stand in awe....

[MrSnatchy]

I love how Tony intentionally misses his cue to start singing after Bela came in late on his solo. Amazing showmanship. After Tony comes in late for the second verse (at 1:21 ), Sam cracks up.

Not only is the music absolutely incredible, but the stage presence is just awesome too.

I could watch this video a dozen times back to back, easily.

[johnnygriffd]

Tony rice was a good singer...too bad that throat cancer got him...still a great guitarist!

[birdstuckinchimney]

Shit that made my eyes water. Is the guy singing and playng guitar Tony Rice?

[Hardly1]

Who is that man driving the Dobro? Awesome!

[NinjatoSama]

That wiuld be Jerry Douglas...the current dobro player for Alison Krauss and Union Station.

[willieadrwt]

does anyone know where i can find 'the no name band' Rice, Fleck, Wooten, Same bush, and jerry Douglas? They played a couple shows about 93 - 94 at some bluegrass festivals?

[Vintage0923]

I saw those boys at a small club in Nashville way back in 92. I'll effort some recordings.

[jinchikacoco]

Sam is cool!

[JonEricMusic]

That is just off the hook!

AWESOME---

Thanks for sharing.

Banjoistically yours,

Jon Eric

bigmrclean, comparing Doc to Tony is like comparing sushi to biscuits and gravy. I love both of them but when was the last time you woke up and had a California roll with your coffee... I mean come on... If you see the look on Sam's face after Tony's break it's pretty obvious that he liked it. I'm not gonna argue with the BushWacker.