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Bela Fleck

Just in case you aren't familiar with Béla Fleck, there are some who say he's the premiere banjo player in the world. Others claim that Béla has virtually reinvented the image and the sound of the banjo through a remarkable performing and recording career that has taken him all over the musical map and on a range of solo projects and collaborations. If you are familiar with Béla, you know that he just loves to play the banjo, and put it into unique settings.

Born and raised in New York City, Béla began his musical career playing the guitar. In the early 1960's, while watching the Beverly Hillbillies, the bluegrass sounds of Flatt & Scruggs flowed out of the TV set and into his young brain. Earl Scruggs's banjo style hooked Béla's interest immediately. "It was like sparks going off in my head" he later said.

It wasn't until his grandfather bought him a banjo in September of '73, that it became his full time passion. That week, Béla entered New York City's, High School of Music and Art. He began studies on the French horn but soon switched to the chorus. Since the banjo wasn't an offered elective at Music & Art, Béla sought lessons through outside sources. Erik Darling, Marc Horowitz, and Tony Trischka stepped up and filled the job. Béla joined his first band, "Wicker's Creek" during this period. Living in NYC, Béla was exposed to a wide variety of musical experiences. One of the most impressive was a concert by "Return to Forever" featuring Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. This concert encouraged further experimenting with bebop and jazz on the banjo, signs of things to come.

Several months after high school, Béla moved to Boston to play with Jack Tottle's Tasty Licks. While in Boston, Béla continued his jazz explorations, made two albums with Tasty Licks, and his first solo banjo album Crossing the Tracks, on Rounder Records. This is where he first played with future musical partners Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas.

After the break up of Tasty Licks, Béla spent a summer on the streets of Boston playing with bass player, Mark Schatz. Mark and Béla moved to Lexington, KY to form Spectrum, which included Jimmy Gaudreau, Glen Lawson, and Jimmy Mattingly. Spectrum toured until 1981. While in Spectrum, he and Mark traveled to California and Nashville to record his second album Natural Bridge with David Grisman, Mark O'Connor, Ricky Skaggs, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, and other great players.

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6
Album Review

Bela Fleck: Rhapsody In Blue

Read "Rhapsody In Blue" reviewed by Doug Collette


It's a long way from India to Broadway, but Bela Fleck makes the journey in high style for Rhapsody in Blue. It follows the altogether exotic As We Speak (Thirty Tigers, 2023), the combination of which further a case for the banjoist/composer/bandleader as an eclectic musical explorer comparable to Pat Metheny. Beginning in the slow-but-sure, occasionally fitful way this album's concept came together, “Rhapsody in Blue (grass)" features seemingly conventional banjo voicings alternated with George Gershwin's inimitable progressions. ...

9
Album Review

Bela Fleck: As We Speak

Read "As We Speak" reviewed by Doug Collette


As We Speak is an emphatic continuation of banjoist Bela Fleck's eclectic adventures dating back to his high school days. It is thus only fitting that this LP's title alludes to the ongoing artistic process wherein creativity can ensue, virtually non-stop, no matter what other dialogue(s) might be going on at the time. In fact, the trio of Fleck, tabla master Zakir Hussain and bassist Edgar Meyer have collaborated in the past--see The Melody of Rhythm (Koch, 2009). ...

3
Liner Notes

Bass Extremes: S'Low Down

Read "Bass Extremes: S'Low Down" reviewed by Chris Jisi


Thirty years ago, a simple pairing changed the trajectory of bass. Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten, bonded by their mutual fretboard wizardry, sharp wit, and teaching philosophies, formed Bass Extremes, and the instrument and its community were forever transformed. The concept was quite ambitious. Steve was a rapidly ascending anchor for Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D'Rivera and the Rippingtons, who had found his voice on the 6-string fretless bass and was taking the instrument to uncharted heights, with a soon to ...

1
Album Review

Rob Silverman: Drumology Volume 3

Read "Drumology Volume 3" reviewed by Jim Worsley


The beat goes on. Yes, that was a big hit for Sonny & Cher back in 1967. However, here it references the third volume of drummer Rob Silverman's Drumology series. The formula seems to be working, so why not keep pounding them out? Again all proceeds go to the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. And the core band stays intact, with Silverman being joined by brother Michael Silverman on piano and keyboards, bassist Larry ...

4
Album Review

Bela Fleck and Toumani Diabate: The Ripple Effect

Read "The Ripple Effect" reviewed by Doug Collette


The Ripple Effect is the coup de grace of Bela Fleck's ten year-plus excursion into the African roots of his chosen instrument of the banjo, originally titled Throw Down Your Heart (Rounder, 2009). Part of a larger set comprised of both video and audio on DVD/CD, The Complete Africa Sessions (Craft Recordings, 2020), these ten concert culls are also available as a double set of vinyl that capture the natural, fluent chemistry between this banjoist extraordinaire and West African kora ...

4
Live Review

Bela Fleck and The Marcus Roberts Trio: Oakland, CA, August 31, 2012

Read "Bela Fleck and The Marcus Roberts Trio: Oakland, CA, August 31, 2012" reviewed by Ken Vermes


Béla Fleck and Marcus RobertsYoshi'sOakland, CAAugust 31, 2012Seeing banjoist Béla Fleck and pianist Marcus Roberts is like a roller coaster ride through new musical places. The two recently gave one of the most exciting shows in Yoshi's history, just in time to celebrate the well-known club's forty year anniversary.In four decades of Yoshi's, there has rarely, if ever, been anything quite like Fleck's performance with the Marcus Roberts Trio, in support of their ...

12
Album Review

Bela Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio: Across The Imaginary Divide

Read "Across The Imaginary Divide" reviewed by Doug Collette


Across The Imaginary Divide, the collaboration between banjoist Béla Fleck and The Marcus Roberts Trio, is as adventurous as its title suggests. And the fruit of these four musicians' labor is as seamless as their approach is fearless.The opening moments of “Some Roads Lead Home" demonstrate that the modesty with which the foursome interacts does not belie their skills. There is no showboating, as Fleck's acoustic instrument gives way to pianist Roberts' and their fluidity carries over to ...

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Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Then and now with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Then and now with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, let's take a look at some videos of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, who are coming to St. Louis to perform next Thursday, June 27 at Powell Hall. This year's tour marking the band's 30th anniversary is one of their most extensive since original member Howard Levy rejoined in 2009, covering 21 dates this summer with more on tap for fall. Their Powell Hall appearance will be their first St. Louis show since 2012, when they played at ...

Recording

Jazz This Week: Chick Corea and Bela Fleck, Alarm Will Sound, Tributes to Dave Brubeck and Eddie Lang, and More

Jazz This Week: Chick Corea and Bela Fleck, Alarm Will Sound, Tributes to Dave Brubeck and Eddie Lang, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Spring officially arrives tomorrow in St. Louis, and while it remains to be seen whether or not the weather will cooperate by being appropriately spring-like, the next few days definitely include some jazz and creative music performances worth seeing. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, the 20-member new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound returns for the second performance of their St. Louis season at the Sheldon Concert Hall. The program will offer a preview of AWS' concert next month at ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Nicholas Payton, Larry Ochs and Kinhoua, and More

Jazz This Week: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Nicholas Payton, Larry Ochs and Kinhoua, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

From free improv to fusion to big band to neo-soul/hip-hop influenced experimentation, this week's schedule of jazz and creative music in St. Louis has a variety of offerings to suit different musical tastes. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, New Music Circle presents saxophonist Larry Ochs and Kihnoua in concert at Kranzberg Arts Center. In addition to Ochs, the group features Scott Amendola on drums and electronics, Dohee Lee on vocals, and special guest bassist Trevor Dunn. Also tonight, trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist ...

21

Recording

Sheldon, Metrotix Offering Online Presale of Tickets for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

Sheldon, Metrotix Offering Online Presale of Tickets for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The Sheldon Concert Hall and Metrotix are offering online customers an advance opportunity to buy tickets for the concert by Béla Fleck & The Flecktones on Thursday, March 29 at the Sheldon. The show is part of a tour that reunites the group's original lineup for the first time in 18 years. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday, February 25, but online buyers can get a day's jump on that by taking advantage of a presale ...

36

Festival

Delfest Adds Bela Fleck, RRE, Leftover Salmon, Greensky

Delfest Adds Bela Fleck, RRE, Leftover Salmon, Greensky

Source: JamBase

DELFEST ANNOUNCES ARTIST ADDITIONS; TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT DELFEST.COM (playing with members of the Travelin' McCourys and Danny Paisley, as well as a set with the Marcus Roberts Trio), festival favorites Railroad Earth, Leftover Salmon, and Greensky Bluegrass. Attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, intimate appearances, both at unique “playshops"-informal workshops where the emphasis will be on performance rather than instruction- and in late night shows ...

17

Award / Grant

Bela Fleck & The Flecktone Win Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition

Bela Fleck & The Flecktone Win Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition

Source: Michael Ricci

Port Washington, NY: eOne Music is happy to announce that Béla Fleck and Howard Levy, of the group Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, have won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for their “Life In Eleven," from the band's #1 Billboard Jazz Chart album Rocket Science. For the new album Rocket Science, pianist/ harmonica player Howard Levy returned to the fold alongside bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist/Drumitarist Roy “Futureman" Wooten and banjoist bandleader Fleck for the first time since 1991 to ...

77

Festival

Kevin Eubanks Band, Walter Trout, Bela Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio and more Headline 2nd RiverJazz Presented By Concannon Miller

Kevin Eubanks Band, Walter Trout, Bela Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio and more Headline 2nd RiverJazz Presented By Concannon Miller

Source: Mark Demko

Walter Trout & the Radicals, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Béla Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio, and former Tonight Show band leader Kevin Eubanks and his band headline the second-annual RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller, May 10-25 at the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus in Bethlehem. Tickets for these concerts, which will take place at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks' Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, 101 Founders Way, will go on sale starting Tues., Feb. 14, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest ...

96

Recording

Andy Statman, with Bela Fleck and Ricky Skaggs - Old Brooklyn (2011)

Andy Statman, with Bela Fleck and Ricky Skaggs - Old Brooklyn (2011)

Source: Something Else!

Progressive bluegrass and old-time jazz collide on the forthcoming Old Brooklyn in the person of Andy Statman, the clarinet and mandolin virtuoso. There are times, in fact, when you hear a little of both even within one of his brilliantly multifaceted solos throughout this two-CD set, to be issued Oct. 25 on Shefa Records. Actually, there's more still to Statman, who first came to fame as a leader in the klezmer revival of the late 1970s. Statman's also toured and ...

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Performance / Tour

Shows I'll Never Forget: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Nov. 18, 2003

Shows I'll Never Forget: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Nov. 18, 2003

Source: Something Else!

By Tom Johnson, at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, Arizona We finished dinner a little before six and headed over to the Marquee theater, which was really only a few minutes away. Since Bela Fleck & the Flecktones came on at 7 p.m.—a very early start time—we figured we'd just wait at the venue. Might as well sit and be comfortable for a while, right? We ended up having to stand in line, however, and as more and more people ...

Ari Joshua
guitar
So Long Seven
band / ensemble / orchestra

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Rhapsody In Blue

Self Produced/Thirty Tigers
2024

buy

As We Speak

Thirty Tigers
2023

buy

Drumology Volume 3

Autumn Hill
2022

buy

S'Low Down

Vix Records
2022

buy

The Ripple Effect

Craft Recordings
2020

buy

Harp vs. Harp

ACT Music
2019

buy

Videos

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band / ensemble / orchestra
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guitar, electric
Jerry Douglas
multi-instrumentalist

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