Bela Fleck Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2 CD

Banjo master Bela Fleck takes a time-out of sorts from the dizzying NewGrass/Jazz-Country-Funk fusion for which he has become famous and returns to his bluegrass roots. THE BLUEGRASS SESSIONS: TALES FROM THE ACOUSTIC PLANET, VOLUME 2 runs the gamut from the humorous, old-time "Polka on the Banjo" (lead vocal by John Hartford) to the straight-ahead bluegrass of "Ode to Earl" (Scruggs, that is, the legendary banjoist). In the mysterious and beautiful "Katmandu," the music of the hills of Kentucky meets that of the hills of Asia. "Spanish Point" is the most Flecktones-sounding tune. This album, which contains fine contributions from Tony Rice, Vassar Clements, and Jerry Douglas, should appeal to the more adventurous bluegrass fan.

Banjo master Bela Fleck takes a time-out of sorts from his famous, dizzying NewGrass/jazz-country-funk fusion band the Flecktones and returns to his bluegrass roots. THE BLUEGRASS SESSIONS: TALES FROM THE ACOUSTIC PLANET VOLUME 2 runs the gamut from the humorous, old-time "Polka on the Banjo" (lead vocal by John Hartford) to the straight-ahead bluegrass of "Ode to Earl" (Scruggs, that is, the legendary banjoist). In the mysterious and beautiful "Katmandu," the music of the hills of Kentucky meets that of the hills of Asia. "Spanish Point" is the most Flecktones-sounding tune. TALES contains fine contributions from acoustic aces Tony Rice, Vassar Clements, and Jerry Douglas, and will appeal to the bluegrass fan with one ear tilted towards the music's past and the other toward the future.

Tony Rice,Sam Bush,Mark Schatz Stuart Duncan,Jerry Douglas ++

Includes liner notes by Bela Fleck.

THE BLUEGRASS SESSIONS: TALES FROM THE ACOUSTIC PLANET VOL. 2 was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.

Personnel: Bela Fleck (banjo); John Hartford (vocals, banjo); Tony Rice (guitar); Earl Scruggs (banjo); Sam Bush (mandolin); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Vassar Clements, Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Mark Schatz (bass fiddle); Vince Gill, Tim O'Brien, Ricky Skaggs (background vocals).

Dirty Linen (2-3/00, p.71) - "...gorgeous, deviant bluegrass with roots firmly planted in traditional country-tinged bluegrass....Ambient speaking voices here and there give the recording a pickin' parlor feel..."