He's very good, but Mark O'Connor, and Stuart Duncan have him beat by miles. I think Stuart Duncan may be the best fiddle player who ever lived. I play fiddle, and fiddlers speak his name with reverence and respect. He's the best.
I started off with a totally different place and with different musician’s tonight on RUclips and ended up here. I’m amazed that I’ve never heard of Michael Cleveland before. What a player. I am stunned.
That's one of the good things of RUclips. There are always some user unfamiliar links between the recommodations. Learned a lot of things looking videos offside my first intentions.
i am a bass player but i started as a classical violinist at the age of five. then when i was about 16 years old i discoverd iron maiden and steve harris 😁😁😁. anyway, i can totally unterstand Michael Cleveland's level of performance.the man is a genius. extremely talented and i love his style.when i listen to him sometimes i wish i could still play the violin. he has my eternal respect.
I don't think that's true, sure Michael is probably more "famous" than Nathan but anyone that knows anything about talent knows they are both top tier.
@@ATLTraveler “Everyone deserves a trophy,” aside... Michael is a gift from God, where as his counter part is a well trained musician. Let’s not take away the magnificence that is Michael. Just to elevate the other musician, for sake of virtue signalling. GTFO, with that nonsense.
The most emotionally expressive fiddler player ive ever heard wow just absolutely blown away. Im a blues listener at heart but wow bluegrass has some real talented musicians they are underrated for sure most people in society probably think bluegrass is for inbreed hillbillies but couldnt be further from the truth. These people sing like angels the greatest harmonies on the face of the earth the most talented pickers on a guitar etc im officially a bluegrass listener and fan..
Yes indeed. Bluegrass today is the home of the most incredible musicians alive. Michael Cleveland is the best I have ever heard and I have been a music fan all of my 71 years. (not just bluegrass but jazz as well). Other amazing young bluegrass musicians you should check out include: Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, and Chris Thile.
Same boat. Grew up with blue and jazz, But for some reason bluegrass keeps drawing me in. And this is one is the greatest I've ever seen heard !! Raw musicianship
@@JamesSterling lol ive been listening too billy strings fine young talented flat picker hes gunna be a legend hes getting big quickly playing with tommy Emmanuel you know yout good when one of the most iconic acoustic guitarists wants to play a set with you your doing something write. I listen too the dead south, tyler childers a lot i absolutely love tyler childers, colter wall, the wood brothers, etc.. ive grown up on blues music my whole life die hard blues fan always will be as well. But when i listen to bluegrass it gives me this nostalgia feel like im in the meadows on a perfectly sunny day by a creek as a kid not worried about lifes stresses like im in a transcendental utopia when i listen it makes me wanna go to a hoe down and wear overalls and spit in a bucket and do things i always was against but now im like fuck it i feel free its a feeling i cant describe but it has one of the best frequencies my ears has ever heard or listened too its like the perfect pitch the harmonies of there voices and the instruments is astronomical its outstanding honestly it gives me goose bumps i hate dancing but a couple of beers or shots of whiskey or moonshine and ill be dancing all night too this without a care in the world.. just absolute genius musician and thats coming from a ray Charles fan id loved to have seen ray instead of playing country try some bluegrass in his prime. I can go on forever cause i have nothing but the utmost respect for these fellow musicians..
Have you ever heard of Stephane Grappelli?! 😊 Don't get me wrong, Michael plays extremely well and is an absolute talent but emotionally expressive is something different.
The other incredible thing about Michael's playing is even though he plays quite aggressively he never seems to knock a string out of tune or break a bow hair. Awesome !!!!!
I saw Michael pulling off a broken bow hair a during a video I watched a couple of days ago. He must have needed to leave out a few notes but I couldn’t detect them. LOL!😮
This version of Jerusalem Ridge has the perfect mixture of Bluegrass and Jazz sound to it. As a fellow fiddler, it’s amazing how Michael plays that aggressively without breaking a strong or blow hair. Truly impressive performance
I’ll never forget Michael bringing my middle school gym in Louisville to stunned silence when he was brought in to perform and show what kids with disabilities could do.
Nathan Livers is certainly talented and well deserves credit. I’m sure that’s why Michael has him in Flamekeeper. They’re a great group. Very enjoyable performance from Nathan and Michael. Michael’s preference is Bluegrass fiddle but he plays classic violin beautifully and also plays a mean mandolin, and guitar.
The way this music is played perfectly. These tunes have so many different names which makes it historically more mysterious how old they are. They never disappoint. Hell yeah.
Chris Scarfo there’s a good chance Kenny Baker wrote a majority chunk of this tune after Bill showed him the basic rough cut of it. From what I’ve read anyway! Either way it’s an amazing song
It only took listening to the first 5 second of fiddle work for me to now I was going to enjoy this ! By the end I had tears in my eyes , this is some awesome musicianship !
i truly think michael is one of the best, even surpasing bill monroe, i really enjoy hearring the fiddle, michael has set the bar high, i love his playing style
Unbelievable bowing rhythm !!! I've been trying to replicate this for years but end up playing it straight because I was trained classically. But Mike's style is I really yearn for. I will try till I die :)
Unfortunately Hauss his talent is God Given, I don’t believe this can be learned. But keep on keeping on My Friend and Kick some Fiddling Ass along the way !!!
You can get it! Michael was trained classically too. And a woman I used to play Irish music with came with the classical straightness and is now a fine fiddler.
Such a beautiful piece, only two instruments and yet it creates such a complex melody. The fiddle screams and the Uke whispers, a blind man who learned to master his instrument, and a man with full sight but the skill to not even need to look at his instrument while playing it, it's nothing short of stunning.
I went to a Bela Fleck concert the other night, and surprise, Michael was there. Now, I can cross him off my bucket list, but that doesn't mean I won't try to see him again. My only regret is that Michael did not play one of his signature songs, front and center, but he was not the main act.
When I simply look around and marvel at creation, I feel lost in thought, when I observe man I can ask why so much evil yet at the same time why so much wonderful things. The question is God or evil, why are we so special and why some are such a genius. Music is I feel a clue to the divine, Michael Cleveland born with disability but blessed by his enhanced ability to listen to his soul,. Some people pick up and instrument and play music others are music and this is Michael.
Some of the sounds that come out of Michael's fiddle I didnt think were possible like 3:20 how the hell does he do that!! That whole riff from like 3:16 is so sick... but we cant forget the mandolin guy, literally didnt muff one note, which is basically impossible with such small frets...fuck and 3:56 holy fuck!!! Excuse my language. And 5:15 wtffff
Micheal Cleveland is the best dang fiddle player I've ever seen
He's very good, but Mark O'Connor, and Stuart Duncan have him beat by miles. I think Stuart Duncan may be the best fiddle player who ever lived. I play fiddle, and fiddlers speak his name with reverence and respect. He's the best.
Damn Straight!
@@procarpenter1788 Those three and maybe add Kenny Baker and you have the Mt. Rushmore.
You're all wrong 🤠
Martin Hayes is up there 🎻🎶
Definitely one of the best bluegrass players. :)
I started off with a totally different place and with different musician’s tonight on RUclips and ended up here. I’m amazed that I’ve never heard of Michael Cleveland before. What a player. I am stunned.
Wow!
ya i saw a video of him playin with billy strings less than a month ago, good stuff
That's one of the good things of RUclips. There are always some user unfamiliar links between the recommodations. Learned a lot of things looking videos offside my first intentions.
10 months after you and I'm in exact same place.
These guys truly are bright stars to be found under the bushels.
Mr Michael Cleveland is such a talented fiddle player. Truly amazing !!
I believe Mr. Cleveland is classically trained in violin( at a very young age) yes he very amazing. As well, as Flamekeeper
There’s a lot of great fiddlers in the world of bluegrass music, but Michael is the GOAT !
i am a bass player but i started as a classical violinist at the age of five. then when i was about 16 years old i discoverd iron maiden and steve harris 😁😁😁. anyway, i can totally unterstand Michael Cleveland's level of performance.the man is a genius. extremely talented and i love his style.when i listen to him sometimes i wish i could still play the violin. he has my eternal respect.
This man doesn't play the fiddle. He becomes the fiddle. Imo he's the greatest fiddle player on the planet.
Let's give Nathan Livers his due credit. He often gets overshadowed by Michael Cleveland but can damn sure hang with him on that mandolin.
I don't think that's true, sure Michael is probably more "famous" than Nathan but anyone that knows anything about talent knows they are both top tier.
@@ATLTraveler
“Everyone deserves a trophy,” aside...
Michael is a gift from God, where as his counter part is a well trained musician.
Let’s not take away the magnificence that is Michael. Just to elevate the other musician, for sake of virtue signalling.
GTFO, with that nonsense.
I agree. They are both special.
Nathan is certainly talented and deserves the credit. Very enjoyable performance.
Dude kicks ass
It's rare to see perfection manifest itself, yet here it is before our eyes. That boy can fiddle.
I never knew I liked Bluegrass until running across Michael's videos tonight. Johnny needs to pony up that golden fiddle.
The most emotionally expressive fiddler player ive ever heard wow just absolutely blown away. Im a blues listener at heart but wow bluegrass has some real talented musicians they are underrated for sure most people in society probably think bluegrass is for inbreed hillbillies but couldnt be further from the truth. These people sing like angels the greatest harmonies on the face of the earth the most talented pickers on a guitar etc im officially a bluegrass listener and fan..
Yes indeed. Bluegrass today is the home of the most incredible musicians alive. Michael Cleveland is the best I have ever heard and I have been a music fan all of my 71 years. (not just bluegrass but jazz as well). Other amazing young bluegrass musicians you should check out include: Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, and Chris Thile.
Same boat. Grew up with blue and jazz, But for some reason bluegrass keeps drawing me in.
And this is one is the greatest I've ever seen heard !! Raw musicianship
@@JamesSterling lol ive been listening too billy strings fine young talented flat picker hes gunna be a legend hes getting big quickly playing with tommy Emmanuel you know yout good when one of the most iconic acoustic guitarists wants to play a set with you your doing something write. I listen too the dead south, tyler childers a lot i absolutely love tyler childers, colter wall, the wood brothers, etc.. ive grown up on blues music my whole life die hard blues fan always will be as well. But when i listen to bluegrass it gives me this nostalgia feel like im in the meadows on a perfectly sunny day by a creek as a kid not worried about lifes stresses like im in a transcendental utopia when i listen it makes me wanna go to a hoe down and wear overalls and spit in a bucket and do things i always was against but now im like fuck it i feel free its a feeling i cant describe but it has one of the best frequencies my ears has ever heard or listened too its like the perfect pitch the harmonies of there voices and the instruments is astronomical its outstanding honestly it gives me goose bumps i hate dancing but a couple of beers or shots of whiskey or moonshine and ill be dancing all night too this without a care in the world.. just absolute genius musician and thats coming from a ray Charles fan id loved to have seen ray instead of playing country try some bluegrass in his prime. I can go on forever cause i have nothing but the utmost respect for these fellow musicians..
Have you ever heard of Stephane Grappelli?! 😊 Don't get me wrong, Michael plays extremely well and is an absolute talent but emotionally expressive is something different.
We all are so blessed and just plain Lucky, ,,to have lived when this music,,these guys were here on Earth. God Is Good!
The other incredible thing about Michael's playing is even though he plays quite aggressively he never seems to knock a string out of tune or break a bow hair. Awesome !!!!!
Like a master bread-baker, he knows how to beat it just right to get the end result he wants.
True. His playing pitch is fluid, emotive, deliberate, time fully well placed. 😅
Nathan is awesome on mandolin!❤❤❤❤
I saw Michael pulling off a broken bow hair a during a video I watched a couple of days ago. He must have needed to leave out a few notes but I couldn’t detect them. LOL!😮
Very good points that you made
Michael doesn't play Music - he IS Music !!!!!
Damned right-
Michael's nickname should be Mr Clean. He plays agressive yet every note is flawless.
The devil went down to Georgia saw Michael and said never mind I’m going home
@Marvin Gardens The Winnin' Teams Gonna Win.
He done beat ole Jonny so he just thought well if he beat Jonny easy well I’m dead he can have all the gold fiddles
The Devil and Johnny laid their fiddles down at Michael's feet
Because they knew they'd been beat.
Hum, it went from Paganini before
@Marvin Gardens Who says Jesus is a musician?
WOW 👌 Me and my brother Michael are related to Michael Cleveland 👍🙏🤠
His hand ear coordination is impeccable.
Pity about the eyeballs
@@cuckingfunt9353 Apparently, he doesn't need them to be the best.
Michael is a god expression, he doesn't see but when start play the sound is an Angel's sound. Alex Bastos from south of Brasil.
If that is not PERFECTION, then I don’t know what is.
HOLY SMOKES! I don’t even like folky style music but dang that was inSANE
You are the greatest of all time on that dam fiddle 🎻 boy!
I can't even tap my foot and keep a rhythm most days and these guys are in outer space with talent!
Happy Valentine's Day Michael Cleveland, I love you 😍💞🎶🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻👍👍
These two gentlemen are absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing this wonderful video.
I've watched this 100 times.
Blumin genius and what a great tune.
Wonder if I can tempt my Irish Weebagband to play this? 🤔
🎶🎻🎶🎻🍺🍺
oh my are they together or what...amazing playing a great song
Thank you God, for this wonderful gift named Michael Cleveland.
MUSIC FROM THE GODS OF BLUE GRASS...
Brother!! Your Work is Amazing!!! Thank You!!!
Much Love & Respect,
J.R.K.
Michael Cleveland - is one of the best in his field without doubt!
That lick at 5:37 is one of those that's so good you have no choice but to giggle a little bit every time you hear it!
I knew I wasn’t the only one to hear that familiar ring.
SO MUCH MUSIC .. flowing from only 2 souls. Amazing.
This version of Jerusalem Ridge has the perfect mixture of Bluegrass and Jazz sound to it. As a fellow fiddler, it’s amazing how Michael plays that aggressively without breaking a strong or blow hair. Truly impressive performance
And Blues and all the various shuffle rythm bowing techniques.
He's a genius 👏
I’ll never forget Michael bringing my middle school gym in Louisville to stunned silence when he was brought in to perform and show what kids with disabilities could do.
Bryan Probus. Very cool!
What ANY human can do. On another level.
I would've died and gone to heaven If I heard this as a child. Wish I did.
What a duo!!! Pure GOD given talent to both men. Absolutely incredible!!!
One of the best ear-to-ear smiles I've had in a long time, brothers!🤣
I can live AND die a happy man now❣
💚🙏💚
You took the words right out of my mouth!!!!!!🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻
Nathan Livers is certainly talented and well deserves credit. I’m sure that’s why Michael has him in Flamekeeper. They’re a great group. Very enjoyable performance from Nathan and Michael.
Michael’s preference is Bluegrass fiddle but he plays classic violin beautifully and also plays a mean mandolin, and guitar.
Omg,amazing definitely want to hear see more❤
The way this music is played perfectly. These tunes have so many different names which makes it historically more mysterious how old they are. They never disappoint. Hell yeah.
Jersualem ridge was actually not a taditional, written by Monroe. I totally get ur drift tho!!!
Chris Scarfo there’s a good chance Kenny Baker wrote a majority chunk of this tune after Bill showed him the basic rough cut of it. From what I’ve read anyway! Either way it’s an amazing song
@@adambrown7112 agreed
The phrasing from both of these guys is so flawless, this song is an absolute banger!
The best in all of Bluegrass right there. Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper also put on the best live show I've ever heard.
Michael's the BEST!! 🎻🎶💪
Who needs eyes when you can communicate directly with someone’s soul through your bow.
Still goose pimples all the way through that ❤🎶🎵🎻
After hearing all the crazy great music on RUclips, its hard to get chills anymore. But this one almost had me in tears. Brilliant!
Wow!! so, so beautiful!!
They play amazingly!!
It only took listening to the first 5 second of fiddle work for me to now I was going to enjoy this ! By the end I had tears in my eyes , this is some awesome musicianship !
Y'all are geniuses. Thank you. What a true pleasure to listen to you.
This is....impressive. Michael Cleveland FTW!
This is so remarkable and inspiring ! Thank you so much
Like a conversation between instruments. New fan here
Gives you chills right?
Right!
That Michael is beyond good. Fantastic player. And seems to be a really nice, humble guy. Brilliant job, gents!
Yes, Michael Cleveland is the real deal. YT sent him my awhile back because they figured out that I love Bluegrass!❤❤❤❤❤
Cleveland has such an amazing feel and timing when he plays. An amazing talent.
Truly remarkable musicians. Michael is a living legend. Amazing
Amazing! Those two fellas are absolutely fantastic. The fiddle player is about the best I’ve ever heard, he made that fiddle talk.👍👍
Michael Cleveland is a freak of nature! As for that mandolin, it sounds amazing and the guy playing it isn't too bad either!
It’s honestly hard to even take this entire piece in at once, it is overwhelming in the most amazing way possible.
WOW, absolutely Amazing performance!
Virtuoso performance. Bravo!
WOW! It's talent like that that inspires me to keep playing! You guys are amazing!
absolutely mind blowing!
Beautiful fantastic bravo for uploading it ❤️
This is so, so good. Extremely impressed.
i love this !!!
Wow I’m big fan now
i truly think michael is one of the best, even surpasing bill monroe, i really enjoy hearring the fiddle, michael has set the bar high, i love his playing style
I'm just going to say outstanding! Can't really articulate it any better than that.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING PLAYING BY BOTH PARTIES !
Just wonderful music - and musicianship
Michael is amazing to watch and listen to. Love that 5-string, want one of my own
Spectacular, Awesome, Wonderful, Astounding!
MIchael's pitch bends are just perfect.
The best of the best!
Both are awesome!
the fiddler is the best it's so inspiring to see the pleasurer on his face as he plays.
Mr. Cleveland plays with speed and accuracy and yet also has the sensitivity to give the slow train coming it's due.
So good 😍
Unbelievable bowing rhythm !!!
I've been trying to replicate this for years but end up playing it straight because I was trained classically.
But Mike's style is I really yearn for.
I will try till I die :)
In a day or two I will have a dream about this.
Unfortunately Hauss his talent is God Given, I don’t believe this can be learned. But keep on keeping on My Friend and Kick some Fiddling Ass along the way !!!
You can get it! Michael was trained classically too. And a woman I used to play Irish music with came with the classical straightness and is now a fine fiddler.
Such a beautiful piece, only two instruments and yet it creates such a complex melody. The fiddle screams and the Uke whispers, a blind man who learned to master his instrument, and a man with full sight but the skill to not even need to look at his instrument while playing it, it's nothing short of stunning.
its a mandolin
@@sixthgatebass you took the words right out my mouth lol. Its like a uke but 8 strings lol.
Spectacular
I went to a Bela Fleck concert the other night, and surprise, Michael was there. Now, I can cross him off my bucket list, but that doesn't mean I won't try to see him again. My only regret is that Michael did not play one of his signature songs, front and center, but he was not the main act.
Insane GENIOUS ❤❤❤ CANT GET ENOUGH
WOW!!! Fantastic
beautiful
When I simply look around and marvel at creation, I feel lost in thought, when I observe man I can ask why so much evil yet at the same time why so much wonderful things.
The question is God or evil, why are we so special and why some are such a genius.
Music is I feel a clue to the divine, Michael Cleveland born with disability but blessed by his enhanced ability to listen to his soul,.
Some people pick up and instrument and play music others are music and this is Michael.
As old Jonesy used to say; it don't get much better than that, Pappaw.
Its unbelievable good ❤
Holy smokes!
First time hearing y'all goodness gracious .thank you best i ever heard.
Some of the sounds that come out of Michael's fiddle I didnt think were possible like 3:20 how the hell does he do that!! That whole riff from like 3:16 is so sick... but we cant forget the mandolin guy, literally didnt muff one note, which is basically impossible with such small frets...fuck and 3:56 holy fuck!!! Excuse my language. And 5:15 wtffff
I’m not sure about the rest, but I know that for 3:15 you can attain that sound by lifting the bow to where it barely touches the strings.
great work ethic
Good point!
Michael is the best fiddler ever ever note is right on the money
ok shout out to my guy helping!..ur awsome!!
Who ever doesn't like this song is not my type of person
beautiful.
I love it! Amazing talent.
Amazing performance:)
Great improvisational skills by Cleveland
yes i know helping is not the word...i just love music!