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Béla Fleck — Katmandu
Album: The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From the Acoustic Planet, Volume 2
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1305









Released: 1999
Length: 4:16
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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(Instrumental)
Comments (89)add comment
why not play some new grass revival? You get Bela and Sammy Bush on mandolin. 
Posted 3 weeks ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
18 plus years and I’m hearing for the first time. Terrific sound
Posted 6 months ago by iloveradio    [ Reply ]
 William wrote:
neilpeart wrote: Thanks. I obviously agree, since I just reprised it :-). As for ego, I'll second the comments made previously about Bela Fleck. I've met him a couple of times & he is a totally sweet, humble guy. Cute enough to attract the attention of every female (& gay male) within a mile or so, and about as talented a musician as is humanly possible, but he doesn't seem to let that go to his head at all. I've also seen what he's capable of when he wants to show off (like in informal jam sessions) - which makes me appreciate the restraint & tastefulness of his recordings even more.



Cool story. Thank You for sharing it.
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Hearing Spirit's "Taurus" here.
Posted 1 year ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
Stairway to heaven? Which came first?
Posted 1 year ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
Katmandu... the song is influenced by the place and likely not any other artists. Hmm, come to think of it many artists are influenced by travel. Ya know, places that inspire.  I have traveled and have written music that soothes the need to describe a place that has no written adjectives to describe it.
Posted 1 year ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
This is a banjo?
Listening to a musician at the peak of their craft - whatever they are playing is sublime
Posted 2 years ago by hellsgardener    [ Reply ]
Bela is a GENIUS!! I love the way he has introduced banjo to genres that normally do not incorporate it!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
SUPERB!!!   
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 rhlrstn wrote:

There's definitely a nod to Stairway in there, along with While My Guitar Gently Weeps



I can hear that!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 Toke wrote:
I'm  confused....is this 'Stairway To Heaven'' or Katmandu ?? still nice sound very relaxing.
 
There's definitely a nod to Stairway in there, along with While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Posted 4 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
I enjoy Bluegrass and good guitar work. Glad some groups have it as part of their sound.  It's a difficult instrument to play I understand 
Posted 7 years ago by LAwolf8    [ Reply ]
Flecktones live is pretty hard to beat but this ain't bad.....
Posted 8 years ago by skyguy    [ Reply ]
 Yes! Only the bold revisit and own.

Sweet_Virginia wrote:
This is stairway...
 

Posted 8 years ago by nek    [ Reply ]
Needs more kazoo!{#Crashcomp}
Posted 8 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
 Sweet_Virginia wrote:
This is stairway to heaven right?
 

Posted 9 years ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
 Dosequis wrote:

I'm tired of "Jimi". He wasn't that good. Really. The hype is out of control.

 
Couldn't disagree more. You can be tired of hearing him but give him his due. For a meteoric career he did a lot in a few years. 
Jimi was an astounding prodigy.  
Posted 9 years ago by FrankDebbieCote    [ Reply ]
 Dosequis wrote:

I'm tired of "Jimi". He wasn't that good. Really. The hype is out of control.

 
Jimi wasn't that good?  Wow.  Anyway, I hear "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" in this one.  It's not bad. 
Posted 10 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Oh my god, will someone please make the banjo go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care if he's as good as Jimi, ( He's not,) it's a freakin BANJO!

What's next? A genius on Kazoo? A washboard prodigy?

There's a reason why some stuff won't sell. Sometimes it's because it sucks. 

 
I'm tired of "Jimi". He wasn't that good. Really. The hype is out of control.
Posted 10 years ago by Dosequis    [ Reply ]
Bela and his comrades are simply amazing live - if you see them I can't believe you won't be blown away...
Posted 10 years ago by MilesW    [ Reply ]
 BillG wrote:

Thanks. I obviously agree, since I just reprised it :-).

As for ego, I'll second the comments made previously about Bela Fleck. I've met him a couple of times & he is a totally sweet, humble guy. Cute enough to attract the attention of every female (& gay male) within a mile or so, and about as talented a musician as is humanly possible, but he doesn't seem to let that go to his head at all. I've also seen what he's capable of when he wants to show off (like in informal jam sessions) - which makes me appreciate the restraint & tastefulness of his recordings even more.
 
thank you Bill from an old FAT head   {#Dance}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Oh my god, will someone please make the banjo go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care if he's as good as Jimi, ( He's not,) it's a freakin BANJO!

What's next? A genius on Kazoo? A washboard prodigy?

There's a reason why some stuff won't sell. Sometimes it's because it sucks. 

 
tell it to Flat & Scruggs, ...{#Dance}   or Steve Marten  my guess is 10 grammys sold a few discs
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
At times so repetitive (with barely distinguishable differences) it felt like he was drilling into my brain, otherwise a higher score: 6.
Posted 11 years ago by rich95969    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Oh my god, will someone please make the banjo go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care if he's as good as Jimi, ( He's not,) it's a freakin BANJO!

What's next? A genius on Kazoo? A washboard prodigy?

There's a reason why some stuff won't sell. Sometimes it's because it sucks. 

 
I bet you just love bagpipes too.
Posted 11 years ago by Drtjdel1    [ Reply ]
 MassivRuss wrote:
Anyone else hear a Stairway to Heaven arrangement?
 
Yep, they are flying the stairway, I was just about to write in...
Posted 11 years ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
Anyone else hear a Stairway to Heaven arrangement?
Posted 11 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Seems less "Fleck'y" then others.  Hm.
Posted 12 years ago by ronniegirl    [ Reply ]
A bit of Led, never hurts!
Posted 12 years ago by angelomisterioso    [ Reply ]
 DaMoGan wrote:
Don't think I've ever had any blue grass.
 
Let's score a bag and smoke it in Romeotuma's hotel room. Anyone else want to chip in?
Posted 12 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
Saw Bela and the Flecktones last weekend. Amazing show! 2.5 hrs. +.

No others out there like these guys. Highly recommend them, live.  

Posted 12 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]
 Rockit wrote:
Nothing like a little blue grass to start your day!
 
Don't think I've ever had any blue grass.

 
Posted 12 years ago by DaMoGan    [ Reply ]
Nothing like a little blue grass to start your day!
Posted 12 years ago by Rockit    [ Reply ]
 Toke wrote:
I'm  confused....is this 'Stairway To Heaven'' or Katmandu ?? still nice sound very relaxing.
 
exactly
Posted 12 years ago by kuntumut    [ Reply ]
I'm  confused....is this 'Stairway To Heaven'' or Katmandu ?? still nice sound very relaxing.
Posted 13 years ago by Toke    [ Reply ]
Usually not a Fleck fan, but I guess I like this OK, ummm hummmm...
Posted 15 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
Something in how it sounds stirrs my appetite for pizza.

 {#Rolleyes}

Anybody might tell me why?

 {#Stupid}
Posted 15 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Oh my god, will someone please make the banjo go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care if he's as good as Jimi, ( He's not,) it's a freakin BANJO!

What's next? A genius on Kazoo? A washboard prodigy?

There's a reason why some stuff won't sell. Sometimes it's because it sucks. 
 

You realize that people said the same thing about the guitar until people like de Lucena and Segovia came along?  And then about electric guitar as well, for that matter.


Posted 15 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
LOVE the banjo!  {#Music}
Posted 16 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
Oh my god, will someone please make the banjo go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care if he's as good as Jimi, ( He's not,) it's a freakin BANJO!

What's next? A genius on Kazoo? A washboard prodigy?

There's a reason why some stuff won't sell. Sometimes it's because it sucks. 
Posted 16 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
I'm pretty sure if you listen to Starlight by the Wailin Jennys (another of Bill's favs - I dig it too), the melody is very, VERY similar at times. Are these two artists related in some way?
Posted 17 years ago by fahartle    [ Reply ]
I recently bought his album with Chick Corea... Bela mate, u gotta new fan. Luvverly!
Posted 17 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
i like this .... a LOT!
Posted 17 years ago by marmelock    [ Reply ]
buddy0407 wrote:
THIS SONG NEEDS SOME COWBELL!!
There you go, buddy!
Posted 17 years ago by sunny_day    [ Reply ]
canadave wrote:
Yeah, I hear the same thing. Weird.
Actually sounds to me more like Egyptian Reggae meets Stairway... (Egyptian Stairway...?)
Posted 17 years ago by Marc_Farre    [ Reply ]
AndyFarang wrote:
Is it me, or does this not sound like a remix of Zep's Stairway...? still groovy though... :-)
Yeah, I hear the same thing. Weird.
Posted 17 years ago by canadave    [ Reply ]
Love Bela - see them every year in Telluride - getting me in the mood for another great show!
Posted 17 years ago by loriltn    [ Reply ]
"Too many notes" live, but Bela does this kind of thing better than just about everybody.
Posted 17 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
THIS SONG NEEDS SOME COWBELL!!
Posted 17 years ago by buddy0407    [ Reply ]
play some Dave Grisman please? Maybe something with Jerry and Rice? Cheers Stephen
Posted 17 years ago by deadalus451    [ Reply ]
Too funny, is RP partying with in my kitchen me and my buddies right now? lol Thanks!
Posted 17 years ago by deadalus451    [ Reply ]
This guy is great. Evry time I'd see his name in print I would confuse him with jello Biafra and so I always ignored him.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Is it me, or does this not sound like a remix of Zep's Stairway...? still groovy though... :-)
Posted 17 years ago by AndyFarang    [ Reply ]
Beautiful coming after Massive Attack - Protection. Fits so well. This, right here, is one of the reasons I am here at RP. The brilliant fitting together of music. I can hardly stand to hear one CD all the way through anymore. Kudos to BillG.
Posted 17 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
chinchita wrote:
Saw him in concert...simply amazing. A new appreciation for the range and capacity of the banjo.
Everyone do themselves a favor and catch the Flecktones live... ...Futureman and Victor Wooton offset Bela's virtuosity and make some serious improvisational magic.
Posted 17 years ago by azdcryan    [ Reply ]
DPDP wrote:
Did the same segue again today! You must think these two songs really go together!
and they do. This CD is full of great tunes like this. Highly recommended
Posted 18 years ago by DoofusGeezer    [ Reply ]
kingfish2004 wrote:
Man you guys just keep finding the BEST @#$@#$ music! Thank you!!!! Kingfish
I can only agree.
Posted 18 years ago by rklein    [ Reply ]
Hmmmm one of the better Fleck tracks I've heard so far.
Posted 18 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
Steve Martin always said that it was impossible to play a sad song on a banjo. I think he's right - and hearing the banjo always makes me happy. Bela is the master
Posted 18 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by rixtar99    [ Reply ]
Man you guys just keep finding the BEST @#$@#$ music! Thank you!!!! Kingfish
Posted 18 years ago by kingfish2004    [ Reply ]
And again. A perfect segue between songs that makes listening to this station very pleasant on the ears. Keep it coming!
Posted 18 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
neilpeart wrote:
Absolutley tight and beautiful segue from Massive Attack into Mr. Fleck...
Did the same segue again today! You must think these two songs really go together!
Posted 18 years ago by DPDP    [ Reply ]
Both of the Accoustic Planet CD's are great. Well worth having. An amazing talent.
Posted 18 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
Saw him in concert...simply amazing. A new appreciation for the range and capacity of the banjo.
Posted 18 years ago by chinchita    [ Reply ]
i've always thought bela fleck to be terribly talented. this just exemplefies the point.
Posted 19 years ago by faerymatron    [ Reply ]
masterhead wrote:
There we go..That is what happens when Ego gets too involved on the creative process...
Bill and other listeners said it all regarding Bela personally and musically. A lovely piece that sound great as part of the RP mix, "Katmandu" it seems to me is more "ego-less" than anything. Shift to minor now and then, "Master", and enjoy the chill. Ego, is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? Peace. (Really enjoying the set, Bill.)
Posted 19 years ago by mperry    [ Reply ]
neilpeart wrote:
Absolutley tight and beautiful segue from Massive Attack into Mr. Fleck...
Thanks. I obviously agree, since I just reprised it :-). As for ego, I'll second the comments made previously about Bela Fleck. I've met him a couple of times & he is a totally sweet, humble guy. Cute enough to attract the attention of every female (& gay male) within a mile or so, and about as talented a musician as is humanly possible, but he doesn't seem to let that go to his head at all. I've also seen what he's capable of when he wants to show off (like in informal jam sessions) - which makes me appreciate the restraint & tastefulness of his recordings even more.
Posted 19 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
This sounds really nice! Will look into some more of this kinda chilled out music, 9 out of 10!
Posted 19 years ago by deanofox    [ Reply ]
As one who sometimes torments a banjo for comic effect, I can't say enough nice things about how much Bela Fleck has redefined the instrument. This song is a good showcase for how non-hillbilly he's taken it. Great stuff.
Posted 19 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
refreshing...original...
Posted 19 years ago by frenchdenis    [ Reply ]
Damn tasteful music anyway
Posted 19 years ago by fusionmuze    [ Reply ]
Would like to hear more of this sort.
Posted 19 years ago by lester    [ Reply ]
In my experiences, Béla has no ego to speak of. He's very humble and approachable. The whole band is down to earth.
Posted 19 years ago by BKardon    [ Reply ]
This has that "Cold, Rain & Snow" sound; nice
Posted 19 years ago by lazytraveler    [ Reply ]
masterhead wrote:
There we go..That is what happens when Ego gets too involved on the creative process...
Er. what ego are we actually talking about here? Your ego to presume that you can judge Bela's talent? He's probably the best jazz banjo player on the planet, and even saying that, his music is muted, talented, and beautifully arranged. He has a right to have an ego, because he's the best, but he doesn't. I've met the man and talked with him, have you? It's interesting to note that what makes this piece particularly tasty is the mix of dual fiddle playing in with all the other instruments (I'm tracking 2 fiddles, 6 string acoustic, bela on the banjo, a strumming banjo, mandolin, and Vic's quiet bassline (probably on an upright bass). Just where is the ego in this?
Posted 19 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
Absolutley tight and beautiful segue from Massive Attack into Mr. Fleck...
Posted 19 years ago by neilpeart    [ Reply ]
PhysicsGenius wrote:
Meh. Too fast to be mellow. Too muted (and low-volume) to be rockin'.
There we go..That is what happens when Ego gets too involved on the creative process...
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
DownHomeGirl wrote:
yes, this is a good one
Indeed! Now, any suggestions on which BF album to buy first?
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
yes, this is a good one
Posted 20 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
Fantastic!
Posted 20 years ago by soulspin    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of Egyptian Reggae by Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
Posted 20 years ago by lunar22    [ Reply ]
fantastic album. i love the first volume of Acoustic Planet too - all jazz.
Posted 21 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Fridays are good on Radio Paradise
Posted 21 years ago by MA    [ Reply ]
Cool! I didn\'t know he\'d done a cover of \"Darkness, Darkness\"
Posted 21 years ago by catsoup    [ Reply ]
Béla\'s music spans many musical styles, but I am partial to his bluegrass recordings. Especially when he\'s playing with the likes of Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and the many other talented musicians on this album. It is a musical adventure from start to finish!
Posted 21 years ago by jeremyleo    [ Reply ]
Bela's music covers the gamut from bluegrass to jazz (with some classical and blues interspersed). He has a penchant for bringing all sorts of music (and artists) together to create a unique sound (just like Jerry Garcia).
Posted 21 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Bela is absolutly amazing... I saw him in concert once, and it was one of the most amazing shows I have seen in a while. Keep up the good work RP!
Posted 21 years ago by Ferret    [ Reply ]