British guitarist analyses Tony Rice and friends CRAZY technical ability! 

I say this with all seriousness. Tony Rice is so underrated that it's almost criminal. He was quite possibly the finest flat picker the world has seen thus far. On top of that, he was such an incredibly great singer that he should be in the country music hall of fame along with some of the greats. He was the total package and is sorely missed.

That line-up is one of the all-time best. Each of them are GOATS.

Rest in peace Tony Rice, the whole bluegrass world was better for your time here on earth.

Knew Tony well when he was with jd crowe in Lexington Ky. He took me to carls music stiore to pick out my first d28. He played it a few times on stage at holiday inn and recommended a few adjustments which I had done at willis music. I still have the guitar.

Unbelievable players on this. A whole stage full of "nobody better than this" on their respective instruments. Mark O'Connor (fiddle), Sam Bush (mandolin), Bela Fleck (banjo), Jerry Douglas (dobro) - and possibly Edgar Meyers (bass) . . . also known as "Strength In Numbers" . . . Legendary - all of them.

Fun fact...... Sam Bush and Tony Rice were once roommates. These guys have played together for YEARS. They know what each other is going to do with chromatics note by note. They're ALL awesome individually, yet they play together perfectly with accurate timing. The BEST of the BEST!

One of the things this performance really showcases is how great a band leader Tony was, supporting his direction of other players with his rhythm playing. Look at how Tony gives a full four bars before nodding to Bela's first break (1:10), but then how he starts pushing the change from I to IV during Bela's break *really* early. Tony's already headed towards the D chord on guitar by 1:16, even though the change doesn't actually happen until 1:18. A lot of beginning bluegrass players (and a lot of seasoned players, frankly) miss how much tension that creates in the rhythm: not just playing on top of each beat, as a lot of players talk about, but pushing the changes too, so that a hot tune like Freeborn Man always sounds like it's on the verge of speeding up but never does. When they each take a double break and Tony does that great ascending diminished run in the second half (9:30), he leaves enough space so that he can relax down to those low pull-offs and give the nod to Jerry (9:36). Damn, he was great.

I was there. It was magical. Had the privilege of seeing Tony several times and meeting him. Very nice man. He influenced so many in bluegrass music. These guys on this video are the cream of the crop. RIP Tony. You’ll always be loved. ❤️

Tony Rice passed away Christmas day 2020. A great loss to bluegrass and acoustic music. The greatest acoustic guitarist ever.

So good to see someone from another genre who appreciates the awesome talent of bluegrass flatpicking.

I'm one of those pickers who's spent 50 years trying to come within 1 percent of what Rice could do. I'm content to just sit back and listen now. Love this channel, Fil.

I was friends with Tony for many years. Wonderful human being and the best picker of all time. R.I.P. TONY

How did that stage not cave in from the weight of these monster musicians? Too. Much. Talent😁

Mark O Connor, the violinist in this video, is also one of the greatest bluegrass guitarists of all time. You should really do a video on Mark.

RIP Tony. You were the best of the best! So glad I have listened to you all my adult life.

I first discovered Tony Rice in the 80s, and I was totally blown away. He's one of those musicians that when you watch him play, all you can do is sit there with your mouth open in awe. Thanks for the video, Fil.

RIP Tony Rice. Loved his music. Prayers for his family. This is one of my favorite performances. That stage was filled with legendary players!

Just bought ur album. I definitely want to support someone who shows respect and admiration for those that came before, no matter what genre of music they play. You are a true musician and lover of music.

RIP, Tony Rice. What an amazing talent.

I've been a Tony Rice fan since the early '80's and learned to play guitar because of him. I think it's the coolest thing to see others seeing how incredible and powerful he was. NO OTHER Bluegrass guitar player has had more influence than him.

He was a awesome friend. One of the most badass guitar players that will ever be I miss him so much and always will

These are some of the best pickers blugrass has to offer. Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor, and Jerry Douglas are fantastic. Being in my 60's and growing up in a bluegrass family, that's saying a lot.

Bluegrass musicians are not joke ,Rip Tony.

Thanks for giving Tony another reveal for your followers. Saw Tony many times live and got invited backstage at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA to meet him and Vassar Clements when they were performing with Peter Rowan some years ago. Such amazing talent!

Tony is right now having a blast jamming with Clarence and Doc

One of my favorites! Tony Rice is the ultimate performer and a musician's musician What a stage full of talented Musicians! Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Bela Flek on Banjo and the wonderful Sam Bush on the Mandolin. Oh, and Mark O'Connor on Fiddle What a treat. Thanks, Fil.

RIP to the master and King of flatpicking and bluegrass. One of the best guitarist in ANY style to walk the earth.

Thank you for featuring some great bluegrass! ❤❤❤ Love these guys so much! RIP, Tony. 😢

Hi Fil !!!!!! Absolutely love it. I was born in 54 and raised in the Ozarks on bluegrass.

Wow!! I was thinking the same thing about the madness of how much talent there is on that stage!!! Every one of these guys is Top Shelf!! Mind--Blown!!! And I learned today that Tony Rice died. This is my introduction to his playing. Can't believe I've not heard of him before but Bluegrass is not my wheelhouse. But I'm sure going to check out more of Tony's music!!! May he RIP

The best thing about this is there's an actual song in there, unlike most RU-vid shredding.

Goodbye, Mr. Rice. Thank you for the music. I would not be the same person without you.❤️

I cant listen to Tony Rice singing Summer Wages without fighting back tears. Tony was just so well rounded

RIPTony. A true legend. Don’t think too many players could duplicate his right hand. He often used a kind of sweeping motion that’s pretty uncommon, maybe something from a jazz influence.i recall seeing Danny Gatton use something that looks similar, basically another player from another galaxy who simply graced us with his presence passing through.

Tony did everything the same way he played guitar. He brewed a mean cup of coffee. Tony's mother grew up in a very small community in Rockingham County, NC. The family name was Poindexter. Every one of Tony's Poindexter uncles were great musicians. His Uncle Frank still plays dobro in a band called A Deeper Shade of Blue. Very smart, talented family.

Fil..You Absolutely nailed it" Brother! Been a Rice' fan since the late 70's.. Great knowledge you have on technique ..You are a great musician yourself Fil.. Thanks for Posting!!

RIP Mr. Rice. You are so loved and will be for a long time. Thankyou

Love Tony Rice, he seem like he was a very respectful type of person. Wearing a suit and tie, dressed like a pastor going to preach a Easter Sunday event. Love that!

Incredible. Pure skill on that stage. I would pay top dollar to see this anytime. Tony will always be remembered! Huge influence on so many people. He is on the Mount Rushmore of accoustic guitar players. Only a few people who have ever existed can play as clean and crisp as Mr. Rice. Great video Wings of Pegasus. Cheers!

One of the best shows I ever saw in person was Tony Rice at the Birchmere in nothern Virginia many years ago. The fiddle player that evening was a very young Allison Krauss who would go on to become a country superstar. I remember that as she was coming to the end of one of her solos, Tony was supposed to take the next break, but he stood back and said "I can't follow that". They played more than an hour of encores, with Tony saying he was having to much fun to end the night. One of the most notable things about the evening was that most of the audience were guitar players and we were all standing there, mouths hanging open. Still one of my favorite memories. RIP Tony. One of the all-time greats.

Great vlog! I saw Tony Rice in the mid 80's at The Birchmere in Virginia. His brother, Wyatt, performed with him. (His parents must have had fun naming him). Wyatt was to fly the following day to California to get married. But, instead of having a bachelor party, he was in Virginia playing next to his brother. I went to see Tony because I was floored by his "Church Street Blues" album. (Which I still have, in Vinyl.) Every performer on stage played phenomenally, beyond belief! This especially goes for the two Rice brothers. They played off each other and having a great time.

I love how he smiles every 10 seconds, makes me want to smile too every time

Tony Rice 'Americas Guitarist '.. I was there 1992 first time i ever heard Tony play (Ever! never on a record) ..I was blown away ..Changed my life forever

This music always makes me smile. It's wonderful! Thanks Fil.

Such an amazing and talented guitarist, RIP Tony Rice.

The Band of Gods!! THANK YOU so much for this! This “genre” has been the core of my favorite music since those days. I’m grateful for your featuring him!

Tony Rice, guitar; Sam Bush, mandolin; Mark O'Conner, fiddle; Bela Fleck, banjo. What a lineup!

Love this homage to Tony Rice and friends.

My biggest inspiration of all time, Tony Rice! I cant believe he has passed away, but it is unfurtunately true.. RIP Tony Rice! And thank you Wings of Pegasus för your analys!!

I was in the crowd totally loving it. RIP Tony

Wonderful! One of my favorites, and sadly Tony is in bad physical condition these days. Thanks for this, Fil. Made my day.

That Martin guitar is the one once owned by Clarence White, I think. That guitar has been through plenty of scrapes- it deserves a video by itself!

I SAW THEM IN NASHVILLE SEVERAL TIMES , JERRY IS WITH AKUS , MARK IS PLAYING CLASSICAL WITH HIS DAUGHTER , BELA IS WITH SEVERAL GROUPS, SAM PLAYS SESSIONS AND HAS A GROUP, AND TONY IS IN BAD SHAPE HIS VOICE IS ALL BUT GONE , CANT PLAY ANYMORE,THESE WERE GREAT TIMES, THANKS FIL

Absolutely brilliant musical analysis!

That is true bluegrass royalty right there. What a great group!

I suggested this video for Fil a long time ago. One of the best videos on RU-vid.

Another artist that I never heard of. Love this genre of music! Tony's playing IS very technically accurate, Thanks Fil for bringing all of these different artists to us!

New Grass Revivals Sam & Bela meets Jerry Douglas meets Tony Rice meets Mark O'Connor! Always unbelievable....Where's the Love button for the videos like this. ;o)) GREAT analysis Fil, so much tech info, Chromaticism? Wow!! Thumbs up.....

I saw Tony Rice live at a bluegrass festival many years ago, an incredible performance. What you hear in recordings, is exactly he does live!

I love traditional and "newgrass" and am a bluegrass guitar player. The first time I saw this video clip - as well as the same group playing Nine Pound Hammer - I nearly wept. What many people may not know is that these instrumental breaks (what other players may call solos) are, like jazz, almost entirely improvisational. They are not written except in rare studio cases, and though they may keep the same musical themes and general structure, they almost never sound the same. They are new every time. These are immensely talented musicians.

When Tony Rice was with JD Crowe, you had JD, Tony, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Sloan and Jerry Douglas. What an all star cast when all were not really house hold names as they are now. It's as if they cut their teeth and sharpened them together. Man what a lineup. Thanks for the Awesome analysis. Great video

Greetings Phil,and I have never heard of Tony Rice but he plays so fast that it makes me feel dizzy in a good way my friend. Thanks again for expanding my musical knowledge🙌

I found out about Tony in the late '70s. Playing with Grisman, Stephane Grapeli etc. Great stuff!!! Some of it was called "Newgrass." I called it "Jazzgrass." I love it! Thanks for this.

That little side look when he hit those jazz notes was the coolest thing I’ve seen in quite a while. Badass.

What a BAND!! have had the pleasure seeing all of them....but not all at once!! Thanks FIL...good job!

Fortunate enough to have seen this exact line up a couple of times !! Tony was the best and a damn nice guy too. This was at the Merle Watson festival.

Thanks Fil, you made my evening with this. What an all-time all-star line up and you on top form in the analysis corner. A real treat! Well done, sir!

The greatness of the musicians you discuss is equal to the smile on your face. These guys are obviously beyond great! Thnx Fil....I would have never known about these guys without you!!

The guitar is sort of the overlooked instrument in bluegrass music, usually because the other instruments are prominently featured. Tony Rice is exceptional because he can hold his own with the best fiddlers, Dobro players, banjoists, and mandolin players.

Mark O'Conner, the fiddle player, was the National Flat Picking Guitar Champion at age 14. Busy fingers growing up

I'll never forgot this springtime evening when this was recorded in North Wilksboro.It was my first Merlefest and no doubt the best.Thanks for the memories.

Thanks Fil, this is definitely a who’s who of talented musicians. Wow! Also, I’ve never understood how Sam can play so well and accurately with those WIDE swings of his right hand/arm. I did get to see Mark Schatz live once and he’s a real hoot. Great video, thank you.

Sir, you picked a good one to analyze those are all legendary musicians on this stage! virtuosos in their own right.

I saw Tony in a small club about a decade ago and it was boggling. I've also been fortunate to see Bela (with his wife, Abigail Washburn), Jerry a number of times in various guises, and Sam. All are masters on their own, and toss them together and it's magic.

Was able to see Tony Rice about 10 times.....his Martin is /was the most beautiful guitar I have ever heard!! the high notes twinkled!! That is the best way to describe it!!! ROCK!

Four of the greatest musicians ever!

Thanks for doing this it's been one of my all time favorite RU-vid videos Use to love watching everyone of these stars play separately and jam together especially TR my favorite since the late 70s again Fil great and interesting analysis on your part you do this well with your knowledge

The joy for music is all over Fil's face. The genre's don't matter. Love your analysis Fil.

GREAT JOB ON THIS REPORT OF THESE BLUEGRASS GIANTS THAT ARE SO EXCITING TO WATCH 🎶 THEY SURE LED THE WAY FOR SO MANY NEWCOMERS ❤

That’s just an insane amount of diverse talent in one place.

Fil, it's great to feel you enthusiasm and joy listening to this stage packed with legendary bluegrass players. I always sorta peripherally enjoyed bluegrass having grown up around it. This video sealed the deal.

I grew up in Crystal River Fl back in the 70's with Tony's little brother Wyatt . We had an awful lot of fun when Tony came home for a visit!!! That whole family was extremely talented and when they got together to play music it was like heaven on earth!!! Saw Wyatt and Larry in Hickory NC around 1991 what a great family... Sorry we've lost a great picker!!! Always knew when Tony was in town cause you'd see him with a cigarette in his mouth and a fishing pole in his hand... Enjoy heaven Mr Rice, catch a big one for me ;-)

Great, just great, mighty fine! Thanks for your analysis!

Tony was the best flat picker the world has seen. I loved his voice. I had seen him many times in the DC area. Always made me smile to listen to him.

Nice work Fil. Possibly the best bluegrass ensemble to ever play on stage, I can only imagine the difficulty in choosing the best points at which to stop the video to provide your spot on analysis.

9:35 The facial expression says it all "Yep, I know I'm good!" RIP Toney Rice!

Glad to see you showcase Tony Rice . He has been one of my musical heroes for over 40 years .

Wasn't familiar with Tony Rice but I do now. I do know of Mark O'Conner who I think was in the Devil Went to Georgia video I loved him riding off on the skate board. Also seen videos of him with Yo Yo Ma. So nice to see musicians appreciating each others music together. Thank you for your time

Amazing crew of pickers, all are favorites 💖💥🔥 Skaggs & Rice is a killer duet Lp!

I enjoy true musicians. Based just on instrumental ability. Excellent. Thanks Fil.

Tony is here bro!!!

Thanks Fil, Tony was a gift

Your two Tony Rice episodes are so rich with information and critique. Subbed on that basis alone, but I've now watched many of your other 'casts. I've been a Rice fan since 1987 or so. New fans of Rice should not miss the wonderful playing on the (all instrumental) CD "Drive" headlined by Fleck, but bearing most of the same players as in the performance we're witnessing, here. Loving your channel more and more, witty, wise and deeply felt, as I can tell when you smile so broadly at some of those amazing runs.

Cream of the crop. New Grass/Strength in Numbers + Tony. Nice one, Fil.

The title of the video says it all . CRAZY friends . Exceptional talents. Loving every minute of it.✌️

Some Bluegrass musicians are just outrageously talented. Thanks so much for another great analysis!

My goodness, the skill level on that stage is through the roof !

This was as Tony's voice was starting to leave him. His legacy is certainly his guitar, but those who grew up with it miss his voice every bit as much. If you haven't, you should seek out "Rounder 0044", considered a must-have album for every bluegrass fan in the world.

Wow... Tony could really play... and that band was amazing... defiantly decades of practice between them to get to this level... thanks for the analysis Fil!!!!

Tony Rice - Manzanita