[Dixielandjazz] speaking of the Flecktones

[Bill Gunter]

Hi all,

Bryan observed:

>Yes, Bela Fleck is reasonably well known in N America;  his group
>is known as "The Flecktones" comprising electric keyboard, soprano sax,
>electric bass, percussion and Bela on banjo.

>From the point of view of a washboard player, the percussionist, (known as 
"Futureman") plays his own invention call the "drumitar." It's a complicated 
MIDI device sort of shaped like a guitar which he can wear with a strap and 
move about the stage in the manner of a guitar player. The buttons on the 
'drumitar' are MIDI triggers which key a particular drum kit sound (high 
hat, snare, bass drum, cymbal, etc.). The ax is wired to a bank of 
synthesizers which create the appropriate sound when the proper button is 
triggered.

If you're not familiar with MIDI by now that's a whole 'nother topic. 
Suffice it to say it's simply a technical, electronic method of producing 
music note by note.

Speaking for myself I really love the group. Some of their stuff doesn't do 
much for me but hey, I'm not necessarily turned on by EVERYTHING done by the 
bands I've been in. Most of Fleck's music is, to me, FANTASTIC.

Bryan goes on to comment:

>They produce "contemporary
>jazz" in the manner of The Yellowjackets, Weather Report and John Scofield;
>a sort of elavator music... mountains of technique and NO swing!  (You can
>marvel at the chops but not be moved by the music).

Now we're getting into subjective areas here. Bryan may not be moved, I am. 
I don't know how much Bryan digs 'bluegrass' music, but Béla Fleck was 
initially inspired by Flatt and Scruggs bluegrass guitar/banjo stylings and 
that influence is heavy in the Flecktones music.  Now I absolutely LOVE 
bluegrass and and virtually anything remotely connected to that style of 
string music where the strings are rich with open chords and the banjo 
bubbles merrily over the whole genre. So it probably stands to reason I'd 
dig Fleck and his gang.

I think I'm trying to say that, for me, the music DOES swing (as opposed to 
Bryans "mountains of technique and NO swing!").

I guess if you're not familiar with "Béla and his Bánjo" you'll just have to 
listen and see if it does anything for you.

Respectfully submitted,

Bìll Gúnter
jazzboard@hotmail.com

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