The amazing thing about Tony Rice is that he is playing all that amazing stuff, but he just looks like he's reading the newspaper while the coffee is brewing. No big deeal.
I have been abusing guitars with my gorilla hands for 33 years now. I love the new stuff and all, like you are always gonna have a good time with Billy Strings, but time after time I think nobody has got nothing on Mr. Rice. All these guys are great in their own right but he’s just coaxing this stuff out of them. Everybody pushing everybody to go one step higher and everybody has got the chops to do it.
Tony literally played and sang so damn hard, that he couldnt anymore. Helluva dedication to his craft, probably something we're unlikely to see again. Rockstar...
I have been watching this video for 8 years. That this is the best expression of Bluegrass doesn’t do justice to the musicians. What’s happening on this stage is perhaps the best expression of American musical creativity ever witnessed. Five masters who came together for one song, clearly didn’t rehearse, and put out something truly spectacular. The stars really aligned for this one and I consider myself truly grateful for having been alive to witness and enjoy it.
This song is literally the reason that my music interest completely changed from hip hop to bluegrass and country. And im a guy from a big city. I never dreamed of waking up and getting coffee and listening to country music
@@heistakes I love Billy for bringing new life and a whole new generation to bluegrass. I grew up listening to it, and I love to see it finding new appreciation.
I love this song. When I was homeless for a short while and was living in my van I sang this song to myself to life my spirits. I was trying to emphsize the freedom I was enjoying instead of the deprivation.
@SavageArfad i don't know, I seen some kids pickin on grass and doing exceptionally well, glad to see this music alive..still, just went to a gathering and saw teenagers pickin and a grinnin, :)
Sam Bush , as great as he is , always looks so excited . It's like he can't ever quite believe he get's to play with the cognescenti of blugrass . Check the look he gives Tony when Rice rips off an especially "jazzy " lick .
Every time I hear anyone else perform this song, I think about this version. Not to determine if it is "better" or "worse" than this version but because this one is just so memorable and so very excellent. You will look long and wide before you see this much pure talent on one stage again.
Tony Rice redefined bluegrass guitar. In this video Tony’s third solo (3:53) is pure genius. In front of a live audience, he goes on a journey and decides to take some unfamiliar turns to see if he can find his way back to the melody...which he of course does. The look he gives Mr. Douglas says it all, “You see that son?” RIP Mr. Rice.
That diminished run ascending run he does that cracks up Sam Bush is just amazing. Then, Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck both respond with solos that have neoclassical pedal point riffs in them, while Rice decides to embrace Joe Pass chord comping. We all love Bill Monroe, but he was the reason bluegrass didn't progress for the longest time. As a musician, this sort of cross pollination is exactly what I listen for. Throw the rule book out the window and go for it!
Im from Spain, Sevilla (South of Spain, Flamenco's Land) We have a lot century os history of roots music BUT I dont know when I listen the folk USA music some inside very deep in me Smash all myself The violin the most, thats chords bring me happyness, nostalgic I dont know how explain y my limited English I meet Tony Rice with the song Church Street Blues, and I was think WHAT A TALENTED MAN, how he can play like this the guitar???? And searching for him, and meet the Tony Rice Rice Unit AND BOOOM!!!!! My mind was burned All this mans are greateast musicians and play like magicians INCREDIBLE Now im a Free an soul man thanks for their music Thanks for this kind of music that shakes me all the senses Before say Goodbye I always think if anybody do the Biopic of the life of Tony Rice maybe can be Edward Norton?? Seem for me similar faces CHEERS FROM SEVILLA SPAIN!!
That little look at 4:07 like "Check this shit out" and then that killer repeat pull-off into the Jimmy Martin run! And Sam's freaking out, too! This is the lineup of my dreams.
Guitar Intro - Tony Rice - 0:02 Banjo break - Bela Fleck - 0:53 Guitar break - Tony Rice - 1:36 Mandolin break - Sam Bush - 2:18 Fiddle break - Mark O'Connor - 2:55 Guitar break - Tony Rice - 3:35 Dobro break - Jerry Douglas - 4:12 Banjo break - Bela Fleck - 4:49 and...Mark Schatz on the bass.
> Hands down, the most complicated, the most musical, and the most lyrical solo ever played on a fiddle I always thought that about Mark's solo on "Paddy on the Turnpike" at the 1986 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Not only amazing in all those ways, but it was a seamless transition from the solo leading into it - expanding on those ideas on the fly and at full speed. Improvisation at it's finest!
Tony Rice is to Bluegrass what Jimi Hendrix is to rock guitar, Wes Montgomery to Jazz, Andres Segovia to classical guitar, and Django Reinhardt to gypsy jazz. We're not just talking about a phenomenal guitarist with an impressive skill set in his arsenal, but Tony Rice was innovative and elevated Bluegrass guitar to the world stage....R.I.P.
I feel the same. Every genre had its innovators who brought the guitar from the back of the stand to centre stage: Segovia, Wes, Charlie Christian, Hendrix, Beck......Tony Rice.
I'm 29 years old and have watched and studied this video since I was around 15. Tony's voice and rhythm/lead playing still blows me away. RIP hero. I feel like I've lost a family member
How in God’s name can you surpass the brilliance of the late Tony Rice and his friends? They didn’t rehearse the actual situation but it was unexpected. Tony looking across at Bela was unbelievable, and from there they went into bluegrass meltdown. There’s no way you can beat that. R I P Mr Tony Rice 🇮🇪
This is a bluegrass masterclass. You hear other bluegrass players on each instrument and realize “they’re good but they’re not [insert any of these guys’ names]”. I especially feel that way about Tony Rice in particular, but I’m biased 🎸
If anyone else notices that Douglas looks at bela like wtf when he really starts his solo (after Douglas just did something awesome on HIS solo) you actually recognize how special this song is.
If this won't light your fire, your wood is wet - the fact that there are 261 "dislikes" is proof that folks have ZERO taste or appreciation of GREATNESS.
A zillion stars. How good is Tony Rice??? Holy Cr@p that rhythmic concept of his is so damn tasty...Every person in this band plays their ass off. This band is THE BLUEGRASS band for my books.
I play guitar and 5 string banjo, and have followed bluegrass for over 40 years. I have to say that I've never seen or heard a performance any where that approaches this one!
You'll never see another combination of the best of bluegrass here. Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas. The best of the best right there. Wow!
Besides the magic of Tony's Martin guitar I am always impressed with Bela Fleck's banjo caz it doesn't overpower the bluegrass sound of the band like many banjo players do, then the awesome fiddling of Mark O'Connor, the never better mandolin pickin of Mr. Sam Bush , Jerry's dobro, and Mark Schatz's bass. When Tony says " play it man " you know your doin it right. Tony is such an intense perfectionist. Hello this is bluegrass at its finest. Thanks for sharin this monumental awesome expression of musical excellence,Mark.
It doesn't hurt that most, if not all of them, have played on albums together. Whether it's Tony's or Bela's, it's always first class. Tony and Jerry played together with JD Crowe and New South, Jerry was 19,Tony about 24, so they have a long history together.
I might be 1000 of the 1.48 million views. What a crew and thank you to Tony for the great music and inspiration to the modern bluegrass players. Rest in peace brother.What a sad day.
It's funny I remember watching this video years ago, thought it was great then, studied music, I come back and it's just even more unbelievable. Almost like a great book that means something new to you each time through.
i love everything about this, you can tell Bela was supposed to come in at 0:49 but forgot and Tony notices and signals him to go, the smile when he realizes is priceless 😂
I just want to say for the record, Music is a God given gift in which I will be forever grateful! These guys are, and were among the very best to ever play their respective instruments that we have ever heard. At the time is was called "The allstar jam" for obvious reasons. I would loved to have been able to be there live but it just wasn't in the cards for me at the time, but I thank God for TH-cam and video cameras. Mark O'connor is one of the most talented guys on the planet! It blows my mind that these guys could play something like this then get bored with it and play an entirely different style of music like Jazz, Blues, and Classical just because! Thank you for posting this video and reminding us all how amazing all these musicians are and allowing us to share it with a younger generation that needs to see it and appreciate it for the treasure that it is to this day!
Especially his second run through the progression. He has that thing where he can lay back a little and then catch up, and it works every time. A wonderful soloist, as is every guy on that stage (yes, I've seen Mark Schatz solo on clogs, and that was awesome, too!)
I've been listening to Bluegrass since I was born and it just has never gotten any better than this. I have had to play it at least once a month for years.
The superstar of all superstar lineups of the day. While Tony is gone, I've head the pleasure of seeing Mark, Jerry, Sam and Bela within the last year. So lucky my time on this earth overlapped with theirs.
Posting this video of a jam session led by Tony Rice but putting his own name first on the video is the most Mark O'Connor thing to do. Love this video though thanks for posting it Mark, ya goon
This was posted within the first couple of years of TH-cam by my assistant at the time, who featured me on all the thumbnails and billed my name first in all collaborations because it was for my channel. This music was not on the internet at that time, so it was hosted here first. Little did we know how these videos would take off (let alone TH-cam). But after they did, we didn't touch them as they were working well! Thanks.
What an amazing performance, everyone up there just killed it...I think Mark steals the show with that fiddle solo though, just wow! Thanks for uploading this!
I have been lucky enough to see all of these uniquely talented individuals perform at bluegrass festivals such as the KFC in Louisville and saw the Tony Rice Unit in Toronto. The sheer reverence the audience held for this man speaks volumes of the greatness of his genius muscianship
It is indeed a thing of art and beauty. You know someone is good when they sound like that and yet their fingers barely seem to move. No motion wasted.
He's just as good on mandolin. I think Mark O'Connor is the most talented person to ever put his hands to strings of all kinds. I think he could get music out of my New Balance shoes.
The ending of Tony’s solo into the slide solo is something we have been graced to listen to. My god man what a time to be alive. The fact we can listen to this and the fact people were put on this earth to create it. A blessing so many don’t even know about. I’m 28 and considered an old soul with music but my god how couldn’t you be when you have grown up listening to stuff like this. Absolute perfection.
By far the best musical performance regardless of genre I’ve ever witnessed, this is a video worth rewatching as long as it exists. Tony messing around with some Jazz scales suddenly and I swear I heard some Bach from Douglas there as well, this performance is crazy
I was exposed to bluegrass at a fairly young age , my dad being a fantastic mandolin picker among his other musical gifts. That being said, this is a premier performance. First, Mr. Mark O'Connor, thanks for posting this. I don't believe I'll ever hear a greater fiddle/violin player than you. That solo was just amazing! The only other man I could say I like as well as you is Andy Leftwich. And you still take the edge. Just so versatile. And there are many greats. Tony Rice is just so phenomenal. What amazing playing. I believe it could be said he is the King of flat picking. Narrowing down to two in that category as well would leave him and Bryan Sutton in my books. Sam Bush, great! Jerry Douglas, just wow! Bela Fleck, impeccable! And i don't have the bassist name, but oh how important. This is just a fantastic piece of work! Masters at work there!
I have a strange feeling ...that certain instruments in certain hands...like the violin @ 3:15 - 3:20 actually are inspired into a lifeform of expression beyond our mortal comprehension. Six masters on stage & 12 entities playing ! Brilliant.
I don't remember how long I've been watching this video, but it's been years. Doesn't get any better than this.
Yesssum.
frustrating there's no recording of the whole set
Yea at least since inception of youtube, same here
INDEED ! NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING SOME OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST MUSCIANS THERE IS!
The amazing thing about Tony Rice is that he is playing all that amazing stuff, but he just looks like he's reading the newspaper while the coffee is brewing. No big deeal.
It's hard to see Tony Rice's stage presence and not think Nick Offerman didn't lift a little of it for Ron Swanson
@@TypingHazard damn you’re right about ron swanson , Tony could’ve been his father on the show
RIP to the big man
I have been abusing guitars with my gorilla hands for 33 years now. I love the new stuff and all, like you are always gonna have a good time with Billy Strings, but time after time I think nobody has got nothing on Mr. Rice. All these guys are great in their own right but he’s just coaxing this stuff out of them. Everybody pushing everybody to go one step higher and everybody has got the chops to do it.
Tony literally played and sang so damn hard, that he couldnt anymore. Helluva dedication to his craft, probably something we're unlikely to see again. Rockstar...
I have been watching this video for 8 years. That this is the best expression of Bluegrass doesn’t do justice to the musicians. What’s happening on this stage is perhaps the best expression of American musical creativity ever witnessed. Five masters who came together for one song, clearly didn’t rehearse, and put out something truly spectacular. The stars really aligned for this one and I consider myself truly grateful for having been alive to witness and enjoy it.
I swear I have been watching it for about that long as well.
Well said man
Junior Brown does a great version also ....but Tony Rice was special ...
I completely agree with the op
Agree- that performance is musical perfection- just mind blowing
Anyone else just randomly come across this song and had their mind blown on how good it is?
This song is literally the reason that my music interest completely changed from hip hop to bluegrass and country. And im a guy from a big city. I never dreamed of waking up and getting coffee and listening to country music
Yeah me…today whilst deep diving bluegrass after discovering Billy Strings last week 😂 Unbelievable talent..has blown my head off
@@heistakes
@@heistakes I love Billy for bringing new life and a whole new generation to bluegrass. I grew up listening to it, and I love to see it finding new appreciation.
I love this song. When I was homeless for a short while and was living in my van I sang this song to myself to life my spirits. I was trying to emphsize the freedom I was enjoying instead of the deprivation.
I hope you are doing well
@nancejo there but the grace of GOD go us all ... hope you're well.
RIP Tony this is the only version that matters of this song
#TRUTH
Jimmy Martin wants to speak with you
@@peterkelmartin1620 I’d love to speak with Jimmy Martin
@@joshuahymer15 yeah its great!
Here, Here!
Ladies and Gentlemen some of the greatest Bluegrass musicians of all time.
859MotherTruckers yes I agree premier in their field !! Made me love Bluegrass all the more to hear it played with such skill !!!!!
Along with Flatt and Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Ricky Skaggs, this group really got me into Bluegrass.
Agreed
@SavageArfad i don't know, I seen some kids pickin on grass and doing exceptionally well, glad to see this music alive..still, just went to a gathering and saw teenagers pickin and a grinnin, :)
Don't get no better than this, hainna?
That has got to be the finest fiddle playing i’ve ever heard.
That’s because it is Mark O’Conner playing it!
@@richarddavidow9710No doubt!
Mark O Connor is the real deal
Sam Bush is just rocking it. Gotta love his enthusiasm. It's like an audience member with an instrument.
Iconic.
Yes!!!! He’s like a kid in a candy shop
Yes that is a great way to put it!
That's Sam
I think that positivity has kept him young. 30 years later and he looks like he’s barely aged at all.
Sam Bush , as great as he is , always looks so excited . It's like he can't ever quite believe he get's to play with the cognescenti of blugrass .
Check the look he gives Tony when Rice rips off an especially "jazzy " lick .
Mark's solo is probably the best solo I've ever heard. It's just sick.
He play so much with the time, incredible. He push and pull time, so incredible
Agree!
I'm happy to see someone else enjoy his solo, I honestly have never heard a better break by any musician on any instrument, it's absolutely perfect
@@alexwhite6133 he defines "playing the changes" in this song for sure.
Ye, he is good, but I know that younger Stuart Duncan is the better.
Every time I hear anyone else perform this song, I think about this version. Not to determine if it is "better" or "worse" than this version but because this one is just so memorable and so very excellent. You will look long and wide before you see this much pure talent on one stage again.
Tony Rice redefined bluegrass guitar. In this video Tony’s third solo (3:53) is pure genius. In front of a live audience, he goes on a journey and decides to take some unfamiliar turns to see if he can find his way back to the melody...which he of course does. The look he gives Mr. Douglas says it all, “You see that son?” RIP Mr. Rice.
Man his first solo at 1:35 is also just beyond ridiculous. I am yet to see any bluegrass solo as awesome as that and believe me I have looked lol.
@@andrewkeen3129 That solo is the one that introduced me to how incredible Mr. Rice is/was. I was hooked from that moment forward.
Mr. Rice saying to Bela tell those jazzers I can do that too...😂
That diminished run ascending run he does that cracks up Sam Bush is just amazing. Then, Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck both respond with solos that have neoclassical pedal point riffs in them, while Rice decides to embrace Joe Pass chord comping.
We all love Bill Monroe, but he was the reason bluegrass didn't progress for the longest time. As a musician, this sort of cross pollination is exactly what I listen for. Throw the rule book out the window and go for it!
I'm British, but I absolutely love Bluegrass. Can music get any better than this.
Spanish here and I love Bluegrass too. Very different from our traditional styles of music.
Greatest improvised fiddle solo of all time.
Im from Spain, Sevilla (South of Spain, Flamenco's Land) We have a lot century os history of roots music
BUT I dont know when I listen the folk USA music some inside very deep in me Smash all myself
The violin the most, thats chords bring me happyness, nostalgic I dont know how explain y my limited English
I meet Tony Rice with the song Church Street Blues, and I was think WHAT A TALENTED MAN, how he can play like this the guitar????
And searching for him, and meet the Tony Rice Rice Unit
AND BOOOM!!!!! My mind was burned
All this mans are greateast musicians and play like magicians
INCREDIBLE
Now im a Free an soul man thanks for their music
Thanks for this kind of music that shakes me all the senses
Before say Goodbye I always think if anybody do the Biopic of the life of Tony Rice maybe can be Edward Norton?? Seem for me similar faces
CHEERS FROM SEVILLA SPAIN!!
Good choice of an actor to play Tony, Ed Norton is a great actor.
@@mdwoods100 yes I always think he be perfect to do the movie, or maybe Gary Oldman
I will love to se a biopic of him
Cheers from Sevilla Spain!!
That little look at 4:07 like "Check this shit out" and then that killer repeat pull-off into the Jimmy Martin run!
And Sam's freaking out, too!
This is the lineup of my dreams.
Rest In Peace, Tony Rice. Damn, son.....one HELL of a guitar master.
Guitar Intro - Tony Rice - 0:02
Banjo break - Bela Fleck - 0:53
Guitar break - Tony Rice - 1:36
Mandolin break - Sam Bush - 2:18
Fiddle break - Mark O'Connor - 2:55
Guitar break - Tony Rice - 3:35
Dobro break - Jerry Douglas - 4:12
Banjo break - Bela Fleck - 4:49
and...Mark Schatz on the bass.
Haha love the last part about the bassist
TY! Was trying to figure.
Drummer is John Cena
Just listen man sheesh
Appreciate you
> Hands down, the most complicated, the most musical, and the most lyrical solo ever played on a fiddle
I always thought that about Mark's solo on "Paddy on the Turnpike" at the 1986 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Not only amazing in all those ways, but it was a seamless transition from the solo leading into it - expanding on those ideas on the fly and at full speed. Improvisation at it's finest!
I’ve been watching this for 11 years and it gets better every damn time. SON!!
I've been watching it for 3 days and I can't get enough. Watched it at least ten times by now!
As good as it gets. Everyone a legend, a master of their instruments. Could die a happy man in that audience.❤
Tony Rice is to Bluegrass what Jimi Hendrix is to rock guitar, Wes Montgomery to Jazz, Andres Segovia to classical guitar, and Django Reinhardt to gypsy jazz. We're not just talking about a phenomenal guitarist with an impressive skill set in his arsenal, but Tony Rice was innovative and elevated Bluegrass guitar to the world stage....R.I.P.
I feel the same. Every genre had its innovators who brought the guitar from the back of the stand to centre stage: Segovia, Wes, Charlie Christian, Hendrix, Beck......Tony Rice.
I'm 29 years old and have watched and studied this video since I was around 15. Tony's voice and rhythm/lead playing still blows me away. RIP hero. I feel like I've lost a family member
You didn’t lose a family member. It’s a guy you didn’t even know
@@TascamTascam you are correct sir just like I stated in my comment.
I’m studying as well man so much to learn from these masters
Definitely pioneers
In this moment, bluegrass perfection was achieved.
Jazz is the great American music and so is bluegrass. This is IT at its best. RIP Tony Rice, you were the greatest guy to play a Martin guitar...
How in God’s name can you surpass the brilliance of the late Tony Rice and his friends? They didn’t rehearse the actual situation but it was unexpected. Tony looking across at Bela was unbelievable, and from there they went into bluegrass meltdown. There’s no way you can beat that. R I P Mr Tony Rice 🇮🇪
Impossible
You can't.
This is a bluegrass masterclass. You hear other bluegrass players on each instrument and realize “they’re good but they’re not [insert any of these guys’ names]”. I especially feel that way about Tony Rice in particular, but I’m biased 🎸
Can we comment on the quality camera work for a sec here? Top notch.
Benjamin Billings absolutely! Camera captured great moments like Sam’s expression when Tony played that crazy atonal arpeggio
What? Mark O Connor is a fiddle God...everyone on that stage is a master of their instrument.
+Thomas Locke Yeah, they are all amazing!
Greatest collection of musicians nobody has ever heard of.
Fuzzy?! ?! Do explain
And at the peak of their game...this music is furiously sweet.
Mark can play guitar too!
got to be one of the best flatpicking performances I have ever seen/heard - the cross rhythms that Bela Fleck gets going are mind boggling
clean g runs up there, Tony, thanks for everything.
If anyone else notices that Douglas looks at bela like wtf when he really starts his solo (after Douglas just did something awesome on HIS solo) you actually recognize how special this song is.
All star lineup!!
A masterfull musician and an absolute flatpicking wizard; will raise my parting glass this evening . . . #RIPTonyRice
This is what happens when you get a bunch of thoroughbreds on the same stage. Excellence!!
Linda Field
If this won't light your fire, your wood is wet - the fact that there are 261 "dislikes" is proof that folks have ZERO taste or appreciation of GREATNESS.
That dobro slide at 0:59 never fails to give me chills. Wish I was alive to witness this in person
It’s incredible. Tony starts to move it, Schatz follows suit, and then Flux punctuates it. Perfection.
A zillion stars. How good is Tony Rice??? Holy Cr@p that rhythmic concept of his is so damn tasty...Every person in this band plays their ass off. This band is THE BLUEGRASS band for my books.
@robby6511 Got that right. The all-stars of the all-stars.
I agree
Tony is a badass! Take care Tony, I’ll play your stuff forever
I play guitar and 5 string banjo, and have followed bluegrass for over 40 years. I have to say that I've never seen or heard a performance any where that approaches this one!
Hope you have discovered Billy Strings!
I say hell yeah
Yup, that's a gitter! Probably, ole fuckers like you and me lived it AND played it.
@@brycelarson9423 Yep. Damn good.
@@brycelarson9423 Josh Williams miles ahead of Billy......
This is incredible. This is one of the heaviest things I've ever seen. Rocks harder than the heaviest rock.
This video gives me chills up and down the spine every single time I watch it! Rest Easy!
You'll never see another combination of the best of bluegrass here. Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas. The best of the best right there. Wow!
Don't forget Mark Shatz on Bass. It wouldn't be the same without him...
Find the albums they made with cellist Yo Yo Ma, wonderful Appalachian music.
This has become my top favorite bluegrass performance jesus chrissstttt they are all so good
Besides the magic of Tony's Martin guitar I am always impressed with Bela Fleck's banjo caz it doesn't overpower the bluegrass sound of the band like many banjo players do, then the awesome fiddling of Mark O'Connor, the never better mandolin pickin of Mr. Sam Bush , Jerry's dobro, and Mark Schatz's bass. When Tony says " play it man " you know your doin it right. Tony is such an intense perfectionist. Hello this is bluegrass at its finest. Thanks for sharin this monumental awesome expression of musical excellence,Mark.
Nailed it!!
FOR SURE!
It doesn't hurt that most, if not all of them, have played on albums together. Whether it's Tony's or Bela's, it's always first class. Tony and Jerry played together with JD Crowe and New South, Jerry was 19,Tony about 24, so they have a long history together.
I might be 1000 of the 1.48 million views. What a crew and thank you to Tony for the great music and inspiration to the modern bluegrass players. Rest in peace brother.What a sad day.
Mark O'Connor is probably one of greatest all time fiddler
Nobody ever got more sound with less motion than Tony Rice. RIP
I have to revisit this periodically...just some of the best...everybody in the band just smokin!!!
Loved when these guys all played together. What a band and don’t forget the great Jerry Douglas!
It's funny I remember watching this video years ago, thought it was great then, studied music, I come back and it's just even more unbelievable. Almost like a great book that means something new to you each time through.
As far as versions of this song go, it simply doesn’t get any better than this one. Bluegrass of the very highest order. And oh, that fiddle playing
Everyone a legend. RIP, Tony.
i love everything about this, you can tell Bela was supposed to come in at 0:49 but forgot and Tony notices and signals him to go, the smile when he realizes is priceless 😂
I come back to this video every once in awhile just to stay humbled and inspired. Incredible.
Amazing work by the greatest musicians….Great Jamming session……!Tony Rice was my favorite guitar player…..
This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.
that little deminished thing tony did at 4:02 is awesome!
Thanks for all the great music, Tony. You'll certainly be missed.
This song and this group of musicians just NEVER get old
The best
Why is mark schatz the only one who's name isn't in the description, that's bacist
Because nobody knows him and he is not important.
@@Douglasfaparanhosdude has more talent in one finger than you do in your entire body
You're racist against bacists😂
I've watched this video almost daily for years never gets old. These musicians are all GOATs
Magnificent jams! Six masters of their musical craft, doing their thing like no one else can. Thank you, Mark O. for putting up this clip.
This is master class bluegrass right here. I had an opportunity to go to this show and sadly missed it.
Tony Rice singin' & playin' at Merlefest will give ya chill bumps everytime...
Holy crap these guys can play off of one another. The changes underneath Bela's solo just took my breath away.
This has gotta be one of the great performances of all time. I keep coming back to it.
I just found this video, and I've got to say that these fellows are fantastic.
I just want to say for the record, Music is a God given gift in which I will be forever grateful! These guys are, and were among the very best to ever play their respective instruments that we have ever heard. At the time is was called "The allstar jam" for obvious reasons. I would loved to have been able to be there live but it just wasn't in the cards for me at the time, but I thank God for TH-cam and video cameras. Mark O'connor is one of the most talented guys on the planet! It blows my mind that these guys could play something like this then get bored with it and play an entirely different style of music like Jazz, Blues, and Classical just because! Thank you for posting this video and reminding us all how amazing all these musicians are and allowing us to share it with a younger generation that needs to see it and appreciate it for the treasure that it is to this day!
I sure agree with you Tony. When you have the best of the best together in one group, its pure heaven.
A gift yes, combined with persistence, support, practice, desire, ambition, luck and good old hard work.
Pure gold. Never get tired of watching this performance. Bluegrass perfection.
I mean everyone of course but O'Conner's solo is extremely tasty.
Especially his second run through the progression. He has that thing where he can lay back a little and then catch up, and it works every time. A wonderful soloist, as is every guy on that stage (yes, I've seen Mark Schatz solo on clogs, and that was awesome, too!)
O’Connor
I've been listening to Bluegrass since I was born and it just has never gotten any better than this. I have had to play it at least once a month for years.
One of my all time favorite videos on TH-cam. When Tony starts playing “outside”, Sam’s face is priceless.
The superstar of all superstar lineups of the day. While Tony is gone, I've head the pleasure of seeing Mark, Jerry, Sam and Bela within the last year. So lucky my time on this earth overlapped with theirs.
Mark O'Conner could play the guitar and mandolin parts as well as he could play the fiddle break. That guy is an unbelievable musician.
He was grand champion on guitar as well as fiddle.
May the angels and the big spirit bless Tony forever.
Surprised they didn't set the stage on fire!
I've seen these guys multiple time. I've had the good fortune to play with a few of them. NOBODY has more fun than Sam Bush. ;-)
How many is here on Christmas morning after hearing of this legends passing
The mad shit that Tony is doing behind Bela's break blows me away everytime, who would even think to play that backup to that part? Insane.
Soo soo many legends on that stage, each one a master at his instrument. Truly AMAZING!!!!!
I was working Merlefest that year, I saw the cripple walk that day, and clog!!! Holy cow , nothing like Tony Rice and this crew!!!
There's smoke coming out of my computer, so I'm gonna play it again!
Tony Rice is something else. Playing out-there herbie/wayne harmonies with a country/BG feel
Ho Lee shit! This is unbelievable!
Smoke coming out of my ears as well!
A freight train of Bluegrass Musicians! absolutely flawless performance.
It really just doesn't get much better than this. Some of the best pickers of all time on one stage just killing it.
Posting this video of a jam session led by Tony Rice but putting his own name first on the video is the most Mark O'Connor thing to do. Love this video though thanks for posting it Mark, ya goon
This was posted within the first couple of years of TH-cam by my assistant at the time, who featured me on all the thumbnails and billed my name first in all collaborations because it was for my channel. This music was not on the internet at that time, so it was hosted here first. Little did we know how these videos would take off (let alone TH-cam). But after they did, we didn't touch them as they were working well! Thanks.
What an amazing performance, everyone up there just killed it...I think Mark steals the show with that fiddle solo though, just wow! Thanks for uploading this!
I have been lucky enough to see all of these uniquely talented individuals perform at bluegrass festivals such as the KFC in Louisville and saw the Tony Rice Unit in Toronto. The sheer reverence the audience held for this man speaks volumes of the greatness of his genius muscianship
Had to go back and watch the fiddle part again. Jesus. That's amazing and perfect
It is indeed a thing of art and beauty. You know someone is good when they sound like that and yet their fingers barely seem to move. No motion wasted.
He's just as good on mandolin. I think Mark O'Connor is the most talented person to ever put his hands to strings of all kinds. I think he could get music out of my New Balance shoes.
If you can watch this without getting cold chills then you’re dead inside!
This is just absolutely amazing music.. It really doesn't get much better than this..
Tony Rice is a National Treasure along with all those in stage picking and playing with him 🇺🇸
A legendary performance. My mind is utterly blown.
The ending of Tony’s solo into the slide solo is something we have been graced to listen to. My god man what a time to be alive. The fact we can listen to this and the fact people were put on this earth to create it. A blessing so many don’t even know about. I’m 28 and considered an old soul with music but my god how couldn’t you be when you have grown up listening to stuff like this. Absolute perfection.
I have to come back to this every 6-13 months to remind me just how good it gets. Gotta have my hit!!!
i watch that fiddle break over and over and over again................unbelievable stuff
By far the best musical performance regardless of genre I’ve ever witnessed, this is a video worth rewatching as long as it exists. Tony messing around with some Jazz scales suddenly and I swear I heard some Bach from Douglas there as well, this performance is crazy
Thanks again Tony. Happy pickin in the sky. Tell Prine we say hello (in there)
Oh my god - the "proverbial tony rice nod" right around 4:03 is soooo goood!
I was exposed to bluegrass at a fairly young age , my dad being a fantastic mandolin picker among his other musical gifts. That being said, this is a premier performance. First, Mr. Mark O'Connor, thanks for posting this. I don't believe I'll ever hear a greater fiddle/violin player than you. That solo was just amazing! The only other man I could say I like as well as you is Andy Leftwich. And you still take the edge. Just so versatile. And there are many greats. Tony Rice is just so phenomenal. What amazing playing. I believe it could be said he is the King of flat picking. Narrowing down to two in that category as well would leave him and Bryan Sutton in my books. Sam Bush, great! Jerry Douglas, just wow! Bela Fleck, impeccable! And i don't have the bassist name, but oh how important. This is just a fantastic piece of work! Masters at work there!
I have a strange feeling ...that certain instruments in certain hands...like the violin @ 3:15 - 3:20 actually are inspired into a lifeform of expression beyond our mortal comprehension. Six masters on stage & 12 entities playing ! Brilliant.
These five stand astride the peaks and pinnacles of American music, regardless of genre.