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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Masterpiece.... Sep 01, 2008
What else can you say - Bela fleck is a natural phenomenon and has created one of the most bewilderingly impressive feats on a banjo you will ever hear. The album is simply a masterpiece. I watched this live many years ago and was amazed - a life changing performance. Who would have ever thought you could accomplish this with a banjo - Another impressive aspect of Bela Fleck is that he has somehow managed to memorize most of the masterpieces on this album, and to see it live is mind boggling. This is a once in a lifetime performance by one of the most talented musicians to ever live. It's a privilege to have been able to experience it and I highly recommend the album, especially to Bach and Beethoven fans - you will be blown away.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Amazing and beautiful Jan 02, 2007
Fleck's 2001 disc `Perpetual Motion' is by far his most ambitious foray into virtuosity, performing classical works by Bach, Scarlatti and Chopin.
And he does it without really showing off. He only tackles mazurkas, fugues and Bach classical inventions on the five-string banjo, a simple instrument for which this music was never conceived.
I once flirted with playing the banjo, and it wasn't an easy task, even trying to play 'Uncle Pen'.
But the man must be possessed to play it like Bela does. Alternating between delicate and complicated, slow to fast, Fleck gets about as much out of the humble banjo as anyone possibly could. He plays it precisely and with a light touch, with respect for the music and his instrument.
Some reviewers think it pretentious of Fleck to attempt a banjo foray into the classical genre. That's bunk. How is virtuosity measured, after all? By playing many genres: classical, bluegrass, pop, jazz, Indian, fusion. And by playing them well.
Fleck wasn't awarded a Grammy for this recording just by looking pretty. He earned it.
Another Bela Fleck Masterpiece! Sep 17, 2006
Who knew there could be classical banjo. It may sound dumb to some of you, but Bela Fleck pulls it off perfectly. I prefer the jazz fusion of his work with the Flecktones, but that does not mean this is not brilliant. Technically speaking, Bela and all of his collaborators are the best around, and who can argue with the songwriting of the classical composers(no one openly insults Mozart). If you haven't heard Bela Fleck, here's some advice. Get one of his Flecktones albums if you're into jazz, rock, or funk, this if you like classical, and his Newgrass Revival, Strength in Numbers, or Sam Bush stuff if you're a bluegrass fan.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Definitely a Winner Jul 05, 2006
It is apparent to my ears why this CD won a Grammy. It takes familiar classical music pieces and puts the distinct Bela Fleck style on them. The pairing of the banjo with different instruments makes this album texturally interesting for the ear and one does not tire of the selections, even if they are familiar. My favorite pairing is the marimba with the banjo. The liner notes are interesting, as is Bela's story on how difficult it was to make the album. It was definitely worth his time and the listener's .
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Soul Food Jan 30, 2006
This is exquisite! The best of human experience encoded on a simple CD disk.
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