Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Mark O'Connor & Edgar Myer Live on the Lonesome Pine Special HQ

Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas & Edgar Myer Live on the Lonesome Pine Special

[@Trollificusv2]

This is the music that Music listens to.

[@sarahdrawz]

real

[@lonetreesteelhorse]

the crowd has no idea how good this is. This is a new genre of music just coming out of the womb. Five virtuosos allowing each other, encouraging each other to be unselfish. The sum is so much greater than the parts, but each part is an unselfish virtuoso. Phenomenal.

[@Trollificusv2]

Well put.

[@grendo45]

i think this performance was in the 80s, more than 30 years ago. Wouldnt call that just coming out of the womb.

[@RowanGolightly]

Check out the Goat Rodeo Sessions and the Punch Brothers. More of the same sort of thing.

[@bobthabuilda1525]

@@grendo45 The op was talking about the live crowd that was present at the filming of this show. The amount of time elapsed between then and now would be irrelevant.

[@grendo45]

@@bobthabuilda1525 ohh i see

[@AaronSpielman]

Strength In Numbers. The album these guys recorded is one of the best acoustic records *ever*

[@goofe.washington953]

A masterpiece. All these guys are “musicians’ musicians”. The best in the biz.

[@Raised-Right]

Absolutely

[@GeeWillikersMan]

I will co-sign on this as fact.

[@jackd.ripper7613]

In a way, this reminds me of "Indian" music a la Ravi Shankar in that it requires concentrated listening to get a full appreciation of the incredible musicianship here. I defy anyone to categorize this music. It's not bluegrass, spacegrass, jazz, country or anything else. This is musician's music. I'm going to see Bela Fleck and Chick Correa later this month.

[@Trollificusv2]

Yeah, when I try and tell people about the best music I've ever heard, I don't know what to tell them it is, either.

[@MuMu-fu7qe]

I call it symphonic new grass lol

[@redtale2001]

What a treat. Been a huge fan of all these guys forever but didn't think I'd ever get to see this kind of footage. Thank you SO much for making this available. Dang, tears before breakfast even!

[@MarkMcCluney]

Edgar's command of the instrument is extraordinary.

[@goodwintrent2989]

Amen!

[@bfree1954]

If you like this, check out Skip, Hop and Wobble. Edgar, Jerry, Russ Barenberg with Sam on the side.

[@juddjohnson5200]

'Five Mullets' would be a great band name for this group.

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Arguably the Greatest Group of Musicians in Acoustic Music, ever. #StrengthInNumbers #Music #Acoustic

[@bikeboatski5692]

Truly amazing! But I bet Vasser and Doc Watson, and maybe John Hartford would have something to contribute...if they were around!

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

+JamesScottGuitar hard to argue with that

[@JordanRiehm]

I agree. This is still the bar.

[@RDBradeen77]

While I understand you saying "arguably" to remain PC JamesScott, there really is no arguing that point. They were unequivocally the best acoustic group assembly. Each man near the top position or at #1 on their respective instruments. Virtuosic!!

[@Trollificusv2]

Strength In Numbers. Yep, I've always said that same thing about them. You can make arguments for certain individual musicians to be added or subtracted, but really, these guys can play more than I can even listen, so...

[@fluffhead1000]

If you like this music I highly recommend Bela Fleck's Tale's From The Acoustic Planet Vol.2; "The Bluegrass Sessions" CD (1999). It features Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Tony Rice & Mark Schatz w/Special Guests Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Earl Scruggs and more. It's very similar to this type of pickin' and the CD is like 79min. long, they couldn't have fit more music if they tried! There's a couple of "trilogy" pieces (three themes linked) that are wonderful. I nearly wore that disc out for the first year! They played at least one of the pieces here. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! ----Gary

[@cbtrules]

I first heard this CD in 1992, and it is still one of my all time favorites. Five amazing musicians with great respect for each other, and having fun at the same time. Hard to beat it.

[@Trollificusv2]

Virtuosity AND genius from top to bottom.

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

Bela is the master , Edgar is sublime and faultless, Jerry is god on a dobro, Mark O'Connor is the greatest multi-instrumentalist in the univers, and Sam Bush just thinks he's in a metal band, I love them

[@davec7759]

+dougie hamilton Shit!, I thought this WAS a metal band!! Must be gettin' old, but still lovin' it!!

[@davec7759]

+dougie hamilton Shit!, I thought this WAS a metal band!! Must be gettin' old, but still lovin' it!!

[@Trollificusv2]

Gotta have Sam Bush in there just for the joy and headbanging.

[@RetiredInThailand]

@@Trollificusv2The best rhythm player in the universe (Not that he can't pick either.) Fleck, O'connor, and Douglas are unarguably the top of the top, of the top, at their instruments (especially at that time.) Myer is the only outlier here, he's merely tied for the top of the top of the top of is instrument. The Newgrass Revival version of this band was awesome too ... got to see them play live.

[@plm7311]

Sam - Metal Band. I don't get your point.

[@dannoharlski]

Fantastic performance! I would like to see Tony Rice up there with them.

[@fortuenti]

That would have been awesome but I least I saw him many times with most of them - even before he lost his singing voice. What a tragedy. He was as great a singer as a guitarist.

[@fortuenti]

At the 24 min mark, Bela explains why they mostly excluded guitar.

[@lizaru123]

This is amazing. Can't believe how old this is and how young they look. Agreed their talent is unmatched.

[@lydeppmath]

I'm pretending it rained for a couple minutes.

[@rnbnj444961]

It's like someone took country music and sifted out everything I don't like about it

[@tadsmith7038]

+Andrew Krueger agreed...in bluegrass music they sing murder ballads instead of just getting tears in their beers.

[@sirvincent7263]

+Andrew Krueger Nor were any house trailers destroyed or repossessed!

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

You should check out Goat Rodeo, Punch Brothers, and the last Nickel Creek album "A Dotted Line".

[@nathanbranson9149]

I agree. You can call it bluegrass or country, whatever. The thing is it makes you imagine a rural setting. And I wish country music today sounded more rural.

[@arhyth]

my sentiments exactly!

[@ColinTerapin]

Strength In Numbers (The Telluride Sessions Live) {static in audio stops for a while, then starts again, then stops. Mostly good audio} (i) Future Man 0:00 (ii) Texas Red 5:41 [Sam Bush speaks] 10:30 (iii) Pink Flamingos 11:19 (iv) Duke and Cookie 15:20 [The sexiest bass solo I've ever seen] 17:30 (v) One Winter's Night 19:10 {static really bad until 21:04} [Bela Fleck speaks] 23:23 (vi) The Locks of Dread 24:20 (vii) [Bela and Edgar get down] 30:34 (vii) No Apologies 38:22 (viii) Slopes 43:03 ... to be continued ...

[@TommyEfreeti]

Thank you for the breakdown!

[@eashton42]

Colin T McGrane Many thanks!

[@Lississandra]

omg thank you for tagging the sexy bass solo, this is very useful.

[@localseed4787]

... was reaching for knob to clear th static, and remembered this is yesterdays tomorrow

[@johnmichaelMTBC]

Colin T McGrane if we somehow ever cross paths, drinks on me for this one

[@TheNerdyMusician]

( 5:23 ) The main reason i started playing mandolin i learned you can head bang in bluegrass.

[@richpayton7162]

Joe Craven will vouch for that.

[@johnsauls1021]

These are some of the very finest musicians in the world. Do not take my word for it. That's what the players say out there.

[@bezuglich]

I love this sound . . . guitar-less, no bar chords, more-prominent bass . . . + bowing!

[@brachashighhopeshomestead226]

YES!!! bass miked more!! isn't it great.

[@Trollificusv2]

It's always good to feature Edgar. The wonderful performance of Mark playing guitar on "Slopes" isn't on this performance. Too bad. The only thing wrong with this is there should be more of it,

[@BrandonPetrucci]

Sam is also their drummer with that mandolin, his style is so powerful...

[@timothymarkonis3630]

He's their incarnate superhuman metronome, also.

[@TH-wq2yw]

Superb, Amazing. Saw them on PBS at 1am after work. Mezmerizing, blew me away. Truly masters at their work. Never stop listening to them even if it's the same songs over and over. I wonder if the people in crowd who never heard of SIN know they're in for a treat. Can't stop smiling when i watch them play close up's. Yeah go! looks fun when yer good,right?

[@TrentHutchesonTNasty]

Far Out I've been looking for this one I was looking and listening when first came out I'm almost certain the unlabeled video tape is in one of the big boxes

[@MikeKobb]

Watching Edgar play is always a revelation. Such economy of movement, while producing amazing music.

[@lonetreesteelhorse]

If you can't see and hear this as a turning point in string music history, you don't know strings.

[@donaldscobie8455]

I was at that show. I think they advertised it as the Nashville Masters. Wish I could find the video stash and the audio stash of the Lonesome Pine Specials.

[@Trollificusv2]

I'll thumb ya up because you care, but don't worry about it. Chris Thile and Noam Pikelny have emerged on two instruments, Brian Sutton can play anything and that kid violin player who played with Sarah Jarosz at Berklee is fantastic. We may never see the like of Edgar Myer or Jerry Douglas again, though. Honestly.

[@jerryoutlaw3396]

Sam Bush is a rocker in a bluegrass band.

[@arizjones]

On the first song everyone in the band is calm , except Sam Bush, who is all hyper.

[@oldesttimer]

The most delightful marination of genious musicians ,I have ever heard......If it were played as elevator music ,I would never leave.........Being put on hold,would be a pleasure if this music were played. ! ....it is now on my desktop for great listening while working on the computer.......BTW. almost didn't recognize Mark without his trademark hat .

[@donniepointer9395]

We used to call it Acidgrass

[@mikemadden2729]

I love acid anything, especially acid trips. Saw God once, on 4 hits, driving!

[@mathewsmith7305]

Strength in Numbers was an all-star side project comprised of Sam Bush (fiddle/mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Béla Fleck (guitar/banjo), Mark O'Connor (fiddle/guitar/mandolin), and Edgar Meyer (bass). The artists were familiar with one another, having performed in the same circles for years, as well as on the same stage -- in numerous incarnations -- at the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Strength in Numbers grew out of appearances by the group as sort of the de facto house band at the Colorado festival; Telluride Sessions, its only album, documented the easygoing newgrass fusion that Strength in Numbers would often perform there. Accomplished bluegrass musicians all, the members of Strength in Numbers were also steeped in the jazz and classical traditions, which found their way into the arrangements on Telluride Sessions. Most of the bandmembers said there would never be another Strength in Numbers album after the first. But since each musician continued to play on the others' albums and appear at festivals such as Telluride, the potential for more genius was there. ~sez FATMATHATCHY

[@mathewsmith7305]

fatmathatchy.blogspot.com/2016/12/useing-twitter-for-mass-connection-with.html

[@Trollificusv2]

Love Sam Bush's comment at 11:00 about wanting to "...let the compositions stand for themselves...and obviously, the hot licks will come through." Heh. Ya think, Sammy?? It kind of shows in the compositions that they knew who they'd be playing with...they could put stuff in that might seem difficult, or impossible, with full confidence ti would get played, and with a little added flair! They need to do this again, while they're all still at the top of their game.

[@elrioviolino3549]

Them thar's a gaggle o' jacked-up fellers if ever I seen one....Marvelous....absolutely marvelous ......

[@cgerowitz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eam7nH-fpM2kl9k Link to audio-only of Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and Edgar Meyer, plus Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, and some very special guests at Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2014. Still dynamite all these years later. :0

[@emuller111]

What a fantastic ensemble!!! Telluride Sessions is one of my favorite albums. Thanks for posting this awesome live show.

[@gakoism]

真不敢相信，他們看起來多麼年輕。但是他們的天賦是無與倫比的。

[@mcturkee80906]

I attended a concert or two by these guys and New Grass Revival at the Lonesome Pine series, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, in Louisville, KY in the early/mid-80s.This looks like it was from that era, yes?

[@leascaart]

THIS IS REALLY, REALLY AWESOME!! IT's a shame there is a lot of white noise for a few minutes before the 22 minute mark... but it goes away. Nevertheless, AMAZING!!

[@KCBarr1]

If ever there was more talent together in one room, I have yet to see it. Alone these guys are masters. Together they are incredible.

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Amen

[@sigmasix99]

Nope. Many, many years ago at the Birchmere in VA, I saw Jerry, Mark, David Grisman, JD Crowe and Tony Rice together (don't remember the bass player). Jerry and Mark are still the best dobro and fiddle players there are. Tony is still the best bluegrass guitar player there is, and his health is failing. Whether JD is a better banjo player than Bela is arguable compared to Alvin Breeden, Steve Vestral or Buck Trent doesn't matter, Noam (pickles) Pikelny is the best I've ever heard. I've been waiting 40 years to hear a bluegrass guitar player better than Tony (I'm not holding my breath). Don't get me started on how good Chris Thile is

[@sigmasix99]

For all you youngin's out there, look up a guitar player named Clarence White. He was killed by a drunk driver around '71.

[@Talcupp]

Steve Johnson Amen to that. Folks seem to have forgotten Clarence. I saw in in '70 with the Byrds. Terrific. On electric too.

[@eddiewillers1442]

"If ever there was more talent together in one room" Not since The Beatles broke up.

[@stevesummers5775]

Jerry, like Django and some others, is one of those guys for whom playing a wrong note is practically impossible. Bela once introduced him as "a guy who re-invents the instrument every time he picks it up . . "

[@Trollificusv2]

I once told people there was a church that worshipped Jerry Douglas and predicted Armageddon would occur when he missed a note. Of course (I told them) that's ridiculous. Jerry Douglas is never going to miss a note.

[@gracestokes3288]

It’s now December 2022 and I can still never get enough of this. These guys get better with age and what a legacy they will leave and open to the next generation of musical genius. So honored to continue to have them performing live. Almost no words necessary…… just listen and be mesmerized.

[@BrokeStrandedandUgly]

Every time I see Sam Bush I think "where do the batteries go"?

[@Dulcimerea]

this is music heaven

[@Raised-Right]

Greatest super group ever

[@Trollificusv2]

I dunno how you would get better.

[@mistabone3899]

Watched this on PBS with Dad. Got to laughing at the Bon Jovi tune for the opening song. I still followed by big hair ways with Bon Jovi, Great White, and Poison. But also followed NGR, the Flecktones, Sam Bush, John Cowan. Mark O'Conner, etc. Like the yin/yang of musical tastes. Then the Flecktones had a music video on MTV or VH1 for Sinister Minister. Yep, full circle. 24:30 for example....became a Flecktones song.

[@johnsarab4500]

Have the CD - love it They moved Bluegrass into modern phase. Hey, I'm a baby boomer Rock n Roll Mex/American!

[@glynngalley4285]

Saw this set live in Nashville early 90s, best night of music ever!

[@JamesZaworski]

Outstanding! I wish we could get a HD quality version of this up on KZbin

[@danieljulian4676]

This is the pinnacle of the country-inflected jazz these guys were into in the late 80s. On the Strength in Numbers CD, I think each member contributed two compositions. I loved this stuff back in the day -- it's compositionally complex, the performances are virtuosic at points, but I can't really listen to a whole hour of this any more. Give me the roots.

[@JimmyDeLocke]

I saw them in Santa Fe at the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater. Being a banjo player, I guess I went to see Bela, but came back talking about EDGAR! He's astounding. An all virtuoso band.

[@timforsman9323]

individually, each is a string wizard & a master of his instrument ... collectively, they put out an album as "Strength In Numbers" ... album called "Telluride Sessions" (1998). It may or may not be still available

[@FancyTailAquatics]

Believe it or not, my Uncle(s) knew Sam Bush in KY. He showed up at one of our reunions as both of my Uncles played music. I played Keyboards at the time of maybe 14, We all jammed for hours in a cabin on Nolin Lake! I'll never forget that moment as I did not know who he was until many years later. At the time I had a Juno 106 and I'll never forgive myself of letting it go when the digital age hit. This would have been around maybe 1985/86ish? Also, knew the Kentucky Headhunters as well.

[@TommyEfreeti]

Even with the audio quality issues, this is beautiful to hear. also, Bush on that mandolin

[@donaldbass6737]

Jazz and Blue Grass have always been very similar in their intricate structure. Now take the virtuoso in each instrument in Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Mark O'connor and Sam Bush and Strength In Numbers resulted. I bought this CD 15 years ago it seems. Was blown away. Thanks for posting. I didn't know a live video of them existed.

[@wereleeroads9311]

I have it on vinyl. The warmth of that music and sound through a tube amp is phenomenal.

[@camtron]

The 39 people that disliked this video should go to hell.

[@1953mel]

what year was this ?

@JD Hines: If I'm not mistaken, it's the "Telluride Sessions" by Strength In Numbers.

[@harrylampton]

Niavlys Brunière YUP!

[@jamesthompson6779]

5 great musicians on one stage...Oh where oh where did the real music go.

[@laserpants13]

Noam Pikelny is, by any measure, fantastic. But I'm loathe to say he can do some of the things Bela Fleck can. I've seen Bela Fleck play live 6 times with various groups (twice solo), and everytime I'm blown away by the sheer skill and ingenuity he has.

[@dobrodave123]

AKA Strength In Numbers

[@JohnBoulding]

Edgar is a beast

[@MustangCoupe1951]

I love Bela's explanation of why they pulled the guitar. I was too intent on following what they were doing and where they were headed to even notice. Cool cats. He's right. The guitar would dominate the middle.

[@WYO_Cowboy_Joe]

Not too many times you'll get a chance to see Chet Atkins playing RHYTHM guitar. WOW!

[@WaltHaulenbeek]

How good does it get!

[@williamglassjr.393]

Timeless 😊

[@DEADHEAD712]

Now I see where Railroad Earth got their sound from.

[@chilblain1]

Strength in Numbers indeed

[@jakeashworth-jones7547]

Can anyone please help me out by identifying the track at 30:35? It's not on the Telluride Sessions album and I can't find it amongst any of the albums associated with various combinations of the guys in Strength in Numbers.....so it's kind of become my White Whale! The melody and chord progression is absolutely incredible and I must know more haha

[@fortuenti]

KZbin's placement of ads IN THE MIDDLE OF A SONG is really in POOR TASTE! Somebody needs to be fired from their job.

[@newgrass]

I wonder where you got this from? LOL

[@JoshDanielMusic]

Love you!

[@BillCox-WilcoxOnlineMarketing]

This broke ground when it came out ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strength_in_Numbers_(band)

[@l.g.5850]

Dream Group 101~ ALL these guys!!!!!!!

[@crabbymcnutt]

That Randy Johnson is an excellent fiddle player

[@acufly]

Oh man, that’s funny! Pigeons beware

[@dianalea3702]

Is the recording all messed up to any one else?

[@jaydoebud]

Might as well be 5 Hendrix's up there in my honest humble opinion. Glorious contributions they all have contributed to to my life/perspective. Live music keeps the artists soul under a microscope and I love it the most for that. Wish there was a better recording of this show but what a legendary gem. Peace and music .

[@TheMrCompletely]

Not sure why this isn't listed as Strength in Numbers unless it's to avoid takedown. It's the SiN lineup playing that material. Fantastic upload, thank you.

[@sandybear61]

Talk about pure magic -- imagine seeing them on a gorgeous Saturday night in Telluride against the backdrop of the San Juan mountains. Incredible!

[@dreadnaught90]

New heights in acoustic music. Stunning performances by unbelievably gifted musicians.

[@Trollificusv2]

Unbelievable. Yeah. The music is wonderful, the performance is great and at every turn they show some musical creativity that I wouldn't have thought possible.

[@star9129]

In the first song, I can hear a bit of Ireland.

[@drharmonica]

I am very pleasantly surprised to hear Mark O'Connor playing guitar. I had never seen him do that before. His guitar chops are equal to his fiddle chops.

[@uptowntoodeloo7273]

I remember watching this on PBS in the early '90s. It was my first exposure to Bela, and I started to follow his music from there. Though I like all of these guys, and I love this performance.

[@jjjb9098]

I recently saw a YT vid of Mark playin the heck out of the mandolin. He's such an immensely gifted musician!

[@Trollificusv2]

Sad they've never found time to do another one of these...or you could go with a "Strength In New Numbers" group with Pikelny, Thile, Sutton, Stuart Duncan...and...well, you've pretty much got to have Edgar Meyer to take it all the way over the top, don't you?

[@buzzee9961]

A very special performance. Sam with no beard, Jerry with no glasses and Mark with no hat!

[@jayi100]

I appreciate being able to watch this amazing, rare footage of some American master musicians jammin together in their early years. Thanks for sharing. A Sam Bush and Mark O'Connor reunion is overdue.

[@FedsBoy]

Jay Ingram I tried to like this one twice. Didn’t work.

[@rudyspring2528]

A 2nd album from Strength In Numbers is overdue.

[@CaveBoy71]

Okay; this is some of the best music ever recorded; but where the F do you find it outside of KZbin; pls send me some clues

[@michaelbavosa6787]

The last guitar lesson I gave..Was this piece from Skip,Hip and Wobble before I knew this existed ...thanks for post ...Nice to how our ideas worked or not ....at this point I realize I still love this whole process regardless of my limitations due to Huntingtlns which I've fought for 16 years ...I'm not giving up cau'se it easy ....besides, I'm back where it's warm and still friends in the Biz ...My strong point has always been words ...Did four TV performances ....Poetry and some stories for the director who I have the lesson to who would visit Pete Seeger before he passed ...We traded Woody stories

[@nicholassternon5857]

Keep fighting

[@DjangoStock]

This is Strength in Numbers -The Telluride Sessions

[@Trollificusv2]

I can respect that. At this level of musicianship, it's extra futile to try and sort out any "who's better?" arguments, because we're doing it with blown minds!

[@skipit650]

Marks first big Time Gig out of High School was replacing Tony Rice on Guitar in the David Grisman Quintet

[@bobbieolsen7264]

Extraordinary, simply the best that Americana has to offer!

[@papa-ql3xb]

I can't believe there was a time I didn't know these guys. God, what I missed for years! I can't believe the amount of talent on that stage. Masters, all!!!

[@mattparksmusic]

I've never heard a bass player do what edgar meyer can do

[@ddawg75]

There's Jerry Douglas and, there's only Jerry Douglas

[@TheCrabshaw1]

Strength in Numbers????. awesome musicians.

[@bobhuber8480]

Strength In Numbers

[@jamesculnan3144]

Astounding.

[@michaelchappell6305]

Just listen to Edgar holding it tf DOWN...

[@underralph]

Oh, it's just MARK O'CONNOR!!! :-)