[Dixielandjazz] Bela Fleck

[Stephen Barbone]

JazznDoug@aol.com wrote:

"Hi All,
A while back there was a discussion about Bela Fleck.  Someone
mentioned  a CD of classical music played on the banjo.  I got that CD
for Christmas yesterday.  IMHO it is absolutely fantastic.  I never
would have thought of wanting a Bela Fleck CD, much less one of
Classical music, if it hadn't been so highly recommended here.  Thanks
for pointing me toward something new, and Happy Holidays to all.

P.S.  Does anyone know if Bela Fleck has made a Bluegrass CD?  Now That
would
knock my father's socks off!

Doug & List mates:

Fleck does also play Bluegrass. His first influence was Earl Scruggs:
See below write up from the Sony site. This man is IMO the finest banjo
player alive today. Bluegrass / Bop / Classical / R&B, he does it all.
Suggest you look for his early works and follow his musical progress
from there. I think his first recordings were about 1979 or so. His
current CDs have a mix of various musical styles. He is a monster
player.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

Below from http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/bela-fleck.htm

"Since the age of 15 when he heard "Dueling Banjos" by Weissberg &
Mandell, and Flatt & Scruggs' "Ballad of Jed Clampett," Bela Fleck has
developed into one of the world's most talented and creative banjo
pickers. Named after composer Bela Bartok, Fleck's versatile repertoire
includes old time bluegrass, R&B, bebop, and progressive jazz.

This New York City native's broad musical interests were fostered at the
High School of Music and Arts in New York. His eclectic musical
influences include Chick Corea, Little Feat, Charlie Parker, Earl
Scruggs, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, the Allman Brothers, Tony
Trischka, and the Byrds.

Upon graduation, he headed to Boston to join a group called The Tasty
Licks, which recorded two albums then split in 1979. Fleck moved on to
join the Kentucky Band Spectrum, and shortly after recorded his first
solo album, "Crossing the Tracks." This album won notice when Frets
magazine named it "Best Overall Album."

 Fleck's popularity gained momentum when he joined the New Grass Revival
in 1982, and he was nominated for a Grammy award in1988 for his song
"Drive." Frets magazine inducted him into their Hall of Greats in 1990,
further validating his success. In 1989, Fleck and several talented
acquaintances (Sam Bush on mandolin, Mark O'Connor with his fiddle,
Edgar Meyer on bass, and Jerry Douglas playing the dobro) formed the
group Strength In Numbers, out of which was produced "The Telluride
Sessions."

PBS television invited Bela Fleck to share his music on their 1992
Lonesome Pine Special. He agreed and appeared with several well-known
musicians, including Howard Levy on piano, harmonica, ocarina, and other
instruments; Victor Lemonte Wooten on bass guitar; and Victor's brother
Roy "Futureman" Wooten, who played the drumitar. They called themselves
the Flecktones, and released their self-titled debut album in 1990.
Immediately after, they released "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" in 1991.

Two years later came "UFO Tofu," an album that blended bluegrass,
worldbeat, R&B, and other musical flavors. Later albums include "Tales
from an Acoustic Planet," "Live Art," and "Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest."