Tony Rice Jam at 1988 Merle Watson Festival

This is the first edit of the Jam, B didn't like the dancing so I did a reedit for the Video that was sold. This was one of the best Jam that ever happened at all the Merle Fest. A Billion $$$$$$$$$$ Band. from 3/4 U Matic master
Mule

[@we7438]

These men were at the top of their abilities, and all on the stage at the same time. Don't get much better.

[@frankrichards3089]

Absolute peak. As good as you get

[@deanpitman3325]

Bush whispers to Rice at the end of Tony's last run, "you ain't human" lol.

[@Deuce_Allan]

😂 probably

[@gluton77]

I thought he was yelling "you played 11 bars instead of 10 dummy" .... yes sir i had a good (looong) time counting the bars (not easy ooh no because the volume of the band seems to be faded down during his last run, and if you want to try to follow this run tapping on your knees, i wish you a good day) 🙃

[@feaw3]

Not only a stellar lineup, this is about the cleanest bluegrass they played live.

[@joykillssorrow8411]

Pure bliss! Love the cameo of John Hartford too!

[@feaw3]

Likely the best lineup ever right there. John Hartford at 1:10 LOL

[@troychester3686]

I was about to ask if that was him. Haha

[@1969mets]

This is SICK good...

[@RUNNOFT71]

Lmao. Seriously though..these guys are on a level most will never obtain. RIP Tony man.

[@davidglemboski258]

Best bluegrass band on the planet at that time. Great musicians. Outstanding......

[@austenrobinson2747]

This is sick on so many levels. RIP Tony.

[@MrJDP1974]

From the earliest memories in my life (mid-70's) I was raised up around a style of appalachian music that my Grandpa and Great Uncles brought with them out of SE. Ky. These men had all left Martin Co. KY when they went Europe to fight in WWII sometime in early 42'. Modern Bluegrass had not really happened yet. I started playing fairly seriously when I was about 8 years old (which would have been 1981/82). Although I have returned and grasped on to the old traditional fiddle tunes and other great pieces of musical history in my adult life, I will never forget the feeling that came up in my heart when I was first exposed to modern Bluegrass. I started going back to SE KY to visit family with my "Papaw" in late Fall of 83'. I discovered that I had a VAST number of incredible pickers that were all true blood relatives. Each would teach me about playing and how the old fiddle and gospel songs translated into what we called Bluegrass. They let me know when I was hitting something right, or when I was hitting something "not right" - with a little scoff mid-jam, quickly followed by a wink and a smile. The instruments - OH THE INSTRUMENTS! I don't want to make a book out of this so I cannot even go there. Anyhow, sometime around this same time that i was quickly developing as a player across many instruments (except for fiddle - my nemesis) I got to catch dang near this exact lineup! WOW! Of course, those old family traditions, as I knew them, passed along with the God loving men that took the time to show love and let me "take one" on every tune. Although times have changed, the call of yesterday lives strong in my heart as I attempt to pass along the priceless gift that was given to me nearly 40 years ago. If you know this music, keep it alive in the youth that we are surrounded by. Tell them the stories that made your heart long for the old times. Take the time to tell them why as song does what it does and the nuances of the interplay between the musicians are so very important. Bluegrass nearly died with one generation. Let's not let that happen again!

[@michaelmullins1290]

I never pass on this song. Several times, several channels. This was at a hyper speed and all of these guys smoked it.

[@extrasouth]

This IS the pinnacle of bluegrass music!!

[@papa-ql3xb]

These guys were, and are, some of the best musicians ever to walk this planet. This is bluegrass heaven!

[@poeta067]

oh yeahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! great tony rice the Master of the six strings acoustic guitar. peace.

[@mf5202]

ABSOLUTELY INSANE. All of them killed it.

[@isomaki42]

Wow! Thanks, that as hot as it gets! Wheeewww! Love it!

[@teamsterbutch]

I have loved and played this music since I was about 14 yrs. old

[@nancyduncan6209]

Never tire of this top classic

[@tbonej3151]

No way it is sped up. get the cd. sounds the exact same. I've seen Tony play a dozen times or so over the years and absolutely no one can keep up with him. if they can, they are sweating and working hard to match him and even in at his age he has barely lost a step. saw him just a couple years ago, I love the picking and miss his voice

[@lizg6515]

Wonderful clip, thank you.

[@randyjones7818]

Some of the most awesome.playin I have ever seen on tape..if you think that is fake..you don't know these guys they reinvented bluegrass music..awesome..r.jones.nash.tn.

[@rockinredneck57]

Hot Rize even before them. Several of these guys played with JD Sumner and New South and JD learned from Ralph Stanley. Tie that in with Ricky Scaggs playing with Tony in JDs band and Marty Stuart playing with Lester Flatt at 13 and that's a lot of bluegrass royalty. Tony started on the West coast, his father played bluegrass and they knew Chris Hillman and the Gosdin Brothers. They are all a dying breed.

[@ncheart6569]

This is such a great video...and an AMAZING festival when it started. That's my Dotty Bell at 5:27, the little blonde in red shorts, just thrilled to watch and hear her favorite musicians perform (now 30 something). She was raised on NGR and Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas via Green Acres Music Hall. THANK YOU for posting this uncut, dancers and all! It was all part of the magic of that first event...glad we were there. I had forgotten this jam and to suddenly see my little girl just blew me away. I remember how, early in the morning, when the gates opened - we raced to the stage and people started slinging their lawn chairs towards the stage ... where they landed was your spot! It was hilarious. And yes, these fellas played it THAT FAST! They were, and are still, amazing musicians, all.

[@Halliday7895]

I think there is audio issues the proof is in the beginning when he says " I hope not TOO extended " before the song ... you hear the audio quality give and drastically waver in pitch and clarity. THATS proof og audio tempo distortion. BY NO MEANS am I putting their skills down..They played fast as all hell and were the best and are still in my opinion the best Era or modern New Grass .... But this is so slightly sped up most people are not keen enough to notice. Sorry if thats hard to grasp.

[@ncheart6569]

Halliday7895 I disagree. I was there and they played it every bit this fast. Yes, there is an audio glitch at the .07, but his voice was back to normal at .010 as he finished the sentence. There is a moment at 2:46 when someone hollers "slower" and Rice responds "Sorry"... If you watch the peoples movements in the background, they are quite normally paced. And the conversation at the end further established it was not sped up. "Sorry if that's hard to grasp," but you are welcome to think whatever you want.

[@ncheart6569]

Halliday7895 Since it comes down to my opinion or yours, I'll trust my experience over your attempt at analysis - every time. You've had your say, and I don't agree with you. Not debating it with you either. Have a great evening.

[@Halliday7895]

+NC Heart I'm very impressed that your memory is better than my research haha even after over a decade your memory serves you better than scientific proof ....gravity and physics dont lie. this video is sped up. no doubt about it. most people arent sensitive enough for such slight tolerance of playback manipulation . I know though....and a few keen others as well have backed me on this. case closed .

[@BlindTom61]

Yes dude and that is why the dancers are looking so frantic (not). And the audience is sitting there relaxed listening up to a sped-up band. You are dumber than a door knob...

[@zachd5242]

Brings tears to my eyes love these guys so much

[@brad9092]

Man I've got goose bumps! Miracle workers. That's what these men are! Hallelujah!

[@luigivercotti7005]

Tony Rice. The best!

[@haroldferguson1714]

Thanks for all the - and+ comments. What you see and what you hear and see is history. If it had not been for a 2 hour video of this one time event there would never be another Merle Fest. It

[@Papoliteo]

The best assembly of great pickers I ever heard!

[@kylelevy1988]

Would’ve killed to be alive during this era

[@alanbruce8632]

This was the cabin stage at MerleFest which was located to the right of the main stage.. I went two years in a row during the early 90's. They had a midnight jam which would include all of the amazing musicians you see here. Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Sam (The Man) Bush, and (wow!) John Cowan? That guy can sing! I used to love Mark O'Conner hosting the American Music Shop on TV. But, you know who doesn't get enough credit - not only as a great singer/songwriter, but as a musician? Tim O'Brien. I swear he just showed up at the midnight jam and played his heart out. I never considered him to be THAT good a musician, but he is.

[@rockinredneck57]

Alan Bruce Good old Red Knuckles from Wyoming,Montana.

[@shaiguitar]

Tony rice nails it. It's also nice hearing early/young Bela Fleck around 3:05. His solo phrasing sounds like himself from the start

[@jonrettich4579]

Some fine group especially the fiddle. Thank all of you

[@matthebert007]

My left ear had such a good time. thx

[@steelhead197]

Wow….just wow….🇨🇦👍🏻 Always loved the bluegrass atmosphere! Have fun!! 😋

[@LoneStarTweety]

I like the dancing - it goes hand in hand with music. Good use of he legs. :)

[@Earthstein]

Great playing.

[@davec7759]

How good will these guys be when they grow up??!!

[@guitarwithtom6041]

Love this but what’s with Motley Crüe’s bass player backing them 😂

[@ShineDawg]

that banjo player got my attention, that some amazing strang work

[@jandeband]

very extremely awesome ❤❤❤

[@antonestack6187]

Oh my god so good... i agree. Tony Rice is the best new-grass guitar player. The other one are so amazing... especially the bass player. From france...

[@cliffsandifer3877]

Another slick day on the fingerboard for these fellas

[@guitarice]

What a jam, the best of the best blazing away. A million thanks for the upload.

[@clyderichardson6475]

This was an excellent video of the guys doing what they love to do and what we love to hear. If you want to hear Tony at his best get the Cold on my Shoulder CD. It is phenomenal!

[@milesfromneworleans]

Love the pace they keep up there... Turbeo bluegrass! The young folks dancing is fabulous!

[@davidtuck7735]

Bass player is John Cowan, formerly of New Grass Revival and currently with the Doobie Brothers

[@nidaxxyxy5495]

Thank you for posting this clip that good misicial and good dancer.

[@davidlowney634]

Mark O Connor, Sam Bush, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck & Jerry Douglas. The best of the best

[@markatr6]

almost 40 yrs later, all are still seen as masters of their craft ! ( nobody does flourishes of sound in a single note like mark oconnor, eh? )

[@bodhinug]

Thank you so much for posting this! It's amazing to see the humble beginnings of an amazing festival with some of the hottest pickers to ever bless the stage! Here's to Doc and Merle!!!

[@TheMemphisSlim]

Good archive tape.. sound not good of course, but very good original tape, thanks for sharing..

[@JamesJessenfedden]

Another wonderful edition of world's best musicians with the worst haircuts.

[@cliffworks748]

smoking terrific!

[@MrTalentwasted]

Somebody lock up a copy of this at the national archives please...

[@captbanjo1]

Every one of 'em on that stage a legend now!

[@rockinredneck57]

They were legends then too.

[@jaygatsby1]

John Hartford with a cameo. And I think the announcer is George Hamilton IV (I wonder if John D. Loudermilk was in the audience). Crazy talented line up. Outside of John Cowan, who can sing with the best of em, each player had a legit claim to being one of the very best players on earth of their respective instruments.

[@jeremysicelymusic]

This is gold...

[@swabee4843]

Always in a coat and tie, no matter what. A gentleman's gentleman

[@travisbryson4744]

That bassist is on FIRE!!!

[@bluegrassrootstv]

Great to see high quality video and audio from "back in the day." You're lucky to have such great footage... Thanks for posting. Jack

[@unclebobunclebob]

Oh shit...what a lineup!!!

[@spearmusic]

great memories. i was there. front row, the whole weekend. then back in the fall for the cabin dedication. the playing & energy of this supergroup was phenomenal.

[@vitograssi3456]

The italian comunist love this music, is very comunist musica. Thank Bush

[@TomRaw-sd6xd]

yeah they get shot if they hit a wrong note

[@bcp5296d]

Definitely one of the hottest live tony breaks out there

[@OldMcDnald]

Tony Rice is a grasshole 😤😡😤

[@bcp5296d]

@@OldMcDnald good one?

[@OldMcDnald]

@@bcp5296d Tony Rice was too cool for regular clothes. Suits and ties only. 😤😡😤 Grasshole.

[@sadiehager4650]

Cream of the crop! 🍻 🎵 💜 🆒 🙌 💞

[@fiddlefeller]

Amazing and blazing. Woooooo!

[@TheKen68]

I am stunned that someone would be that ignorant to write a post saying that?.Just listen to it with amazement like the rest of us and enjoy what your witnessing..Rice and that group was the best!..

[@davec7759]

I haven't read the comment you're referring to. but it must be total bullshit. All these guys play like maniacs, and how good are they?? You've only got to watch the fingers to see what's happening.

[@Halliday7895]

Dave C this is sped up and not the natural speed, sorry to ruin the magic for you The performance is Amazing non the Less! But the technology of the time was not as consistent as todays audio . Today pitch and tempo are accurately reproduced... this version is bad ass and all.but just a little too fast on play back. there are a bunch of audio and visual clues that give it away and verify my "claim" im not just BS'n

[@davec7759]

Halliday7895 It may be a little too fast but not enough to make it noticeable, else tony would sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks. Let me know the clues, I will have another look.

[@Halliday7895]

Dave C As Tony describes the song about to be played, speaking about the length of the tune... " I hope not TOO extended" he says around 9 seconds in... You hear his voice pitch speed up .and stay higher up just slightly more "chipmunkish" than usual..then the song begins and stays up there When they talk at the end of the song...the spacing between his and the other guys words come in unnatural , Tony then thanks and fake kisses and praises the audience . While doing this a fellow on stage interrupted Tony , the timing and words sound sped up and odd timing for typical human interaction on or off stage . When you watch the payers bop bob and dance along to what they play, it seems abnormally aggressive their hair moves too fast.. these motions seemingly defy physics at times... the bassist in particular is intense moving too radically and fast to really articulate cleanly maybe he can I duno...he looks extra maniacal The People walking and sitting in the audience do average hand motions and mannerisms that see sped up and unnatural ... Their dancing too, they all seem to have a fast twitching going on . The stage chatter and talking picked up on the microphone that isnt featured sounds but background sound has abnormal communicative timing. The first 9 seconds really solidified it for me. I listen to other versions and the difference isn't huge , but the tolerance we are talking about is so sensitive that since its bluegrass, it's more easily masked BUT when the speed reaches a certain max the change in musical pitch is insignificant compared to the physics involved in all players playing that much faster... Add all the visual clues it's plausible to Me the technology or someone intentionally sped up the audio . I still think they are burning here though.

[@Halliday7895]

I'm stunned that you can't conceive me enjoying this while acknowledging its a little sped up bc of technological error. His voice pitch very obviously changes when he introduced the song "hope not too extended" is the phrase. Its too fast but just slightly so most people aren't perceptive enough to tell . I'm just really glad my musicians ear and mind is so young and keen .

[@johnhehir7876]

A real treat

[@davidsawyer988]

It's called John Hardy was a desperate Little Man!

[@nofantasyman]

What a great combination of musicians

[@АндрейГорбатов-ы5с]

BLUEGRASS --NEWGRASS == FOREVER!!!!

[@chriscushing3369]

Awesome!

[@sklantharregulus2100]

Completely awesome

[@akiwayneukonmaanahoa1590]

Sam Bush...lol. Love that guy.

[@mdhbigdog]

Pretty good pickin' all around.

[@patmccune1771]

At the 1:10 mark is the late, great, John Hartford looking on.

[@TheMrCompletely]

quite incredible but I'm only getting audio in the left channel?!?

[@kendrickprevatt7865]

This is what they took from us 🫤

[@slowwaterdrifting]

❤❤❤❤

[@dianalea3702]

the very best of the very best! Wow.

[@sullyb23511]

Is that the New Grass Revival backing him up?

[@rockinredneck57]

William Sullivan 3/4 of it.

[@strawman8111]

John Cowan is on bass.

[@BlindTom61]

Except for the "look at me play stupid tritone crap" by Fleck, this is maybe the best bit of New Grass I've ever heard. And to those who say, "uh, like man, the tape is uh sped up," look at the video. If the folks there are just normal looking in their business, the tape ain't been doctored. Voices don't sound like the Chipmunks either. You can, however, find some of the biggest musical turds on the planet in the know-it-all audience members of acoustic music shows. Cocaine? Cocaine doesn't give you chops. In fact it usually destroys them. Don't ask how I know that to my sorrow.

[@lesbrealk4370]

Stellar jam!

[@weenerdik]

Such a shame this recording only plays one speaker, otherwise amazing.

[@StephenBuckingham]

What a band!!!

[@turbodownwarddog]

THE BEST!!!!!

[@JimmyKelly-b7z]

Perfecto..

[@namcat53]

The Cream.....or something like it. Musicians at the top of their game. Stunning. It was amazing to hear these guys then at a festival, especially if you had grown up with them and followed their progress since they first started out, like we did. Those of you who did, know what I'm talking about. The best. THANKS!

[@los_rubos]

Young and Reckless 🔥

[@LeConquichante]

Is Sam Bush the only guy on stage that hasn't changed his look 8 or 9 times before and after this was recorded?

[@skullduggery3377]

who's a better flatpicker than rice?....i can't think of anyone either.

[@aebi3600]

+sküll düggery O'connor perhaps?

[@rexzens]

+sküll düggery Doc Watson is good, but I dont think he's better

[@FANJG24]

Cody Kilby is by far the best acoustic flatpicker I've ever heard.

[@skullduggery3377]

+Rex Zens --- oh yeah! he's like the father of all...lol.

[@skullduggery3377]

+FANJG24 --- yes, he's my other favorite... along with grier.

[@K131399]

Probably unnecessary to thank the crowd for being there. It shows gratitude to the people for showing up but in reality wouldn't you have to be more or less insane to NOT be there if you had the chance? lol. Any festival with the name Watson involved means you will experience greatness that you didn't think was possible, especially if you listened to the radio on the way and liked what you heard lol

[@pepulka]

Pecka! Studiovky jsou o ničem! ;0)

[@winkcrittenden6011]

LOL 1:12 Smile John!

[@manguera9]

this is the equivalent of Chick Corea electric band , Toni Rice and his "Unit" were burning, someone is gonna say "they played only three chords".. get over .., this is about melodic solo ,and they played fastest

[@rockinredneck57]

3/4 of New Grass Revival up there. Pat is no slouch on guitar either.

[@Teleman01]

Anyone know why we don't see Mark O'Connor playing with any of these guys anymore? You don't see him playing with Bella Fleck, which is so wild to me. Nor do you see Marco O'Connor playing with Sam Bush anymore. I'm assuming his narcissistic attitude??

[@frankrichards3089]

Wow.

[@earlspearl2933]

I would vote for Bryan Sutton . Leo Kotke . but I don't forget all the girls that are hardcore players .Muriel Anderson . Rory Block .Tony is possibly the best picker tho .

[@АндрейСимеонов-т9ь]

Is that Jerry Douglas on the Dobro?

[@88huckster]

Андрей Симеонов yes

[@guastomaster738]

If you say Dobro, you say Jerry Douglas.

[@MickLewis]

Who is bass player? man he's getting into it haha

[@strawman8111]

John Cowan

[@alphacentauri8083]

Did he just arrive from another gig playing in a Poison cover band?

[@strawman8111]

John Cowan Sir

[@rockinredneck57]

Mick Lewis John Cowan of New Grass Revival, along with Bela Fleck on banjo and Sam Bush on mandolin. John is currently playing with the Doobie Brothers. Very talented vocalist in his own right.

[@aliwhitwell]

The best by far vocalist in that line up!

[@tompeery1017]

Bass was John Cowan