[Dixielandjazz] BeBop Banjos was straight ahead banjos

[Bill Gunter]

Steve writes (regarding banjois Bela Fleck):

>. . . I would add that banjoist Steven Debonaventura in Media PA will play 
>bebop on banjo if asked. He is a virtuoso player who does songs like 
>Charlie Parker's "Confirmation" in swinging up tempo format., as well as 
>the usual Dixieland book of 500 tunes or so. And if you bring the music, 
>he'll sight read anything you want from Mahler to Monk.

I'm not sure about Debonaventure, but Fleck plays a 5-string banjo, which is 
decidedly different than a plectrum or tenor banjo in playing technique and 
style. The 5 string has a unique sound which really can't be duplicated (at 
least not closely) on the plectrum.

Cheers,

Bill "Haul it out and twang it" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com