Louis Cato & The Late Show Band with Bela Fleck: Big Country

The bands on late night talk shows have always been stacked, but it seems like they’ve gotten more adventurous over the past few years with special guests and more complex song choices.

Here’s a great example from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert that features Louis Cato and the band welcoming banjo hero Bela Fleck to perform the Flecktones song “Big Country.” The song originally appeared on Left of Cool, featuring Victor Wooten, and was recorded again for Live at the Quick, which has the bass guru trading with saxophonist Jeff Coffin.

The Late Show arrangement opens things up for solos with bassist Endea Owens throwing down some straight fire for her break. You know it’s a good performance when half of the YouTube comments are about the bass solo.