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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Saw Bela Fleck and his band, the Flecktones, last night in an outdoor concert. He's one helluva banjo player, and he has two electric banjos that look to be tuned like a banjo, but they sound very much like an electric guitar. Some incredibly wild playing. His drummer was playing a hand-held device that he reportedly invented called a drumitar, essentially a digital percussion instrument that he plays by tapping various buttons on the neck and body. Bruce Hornsby opened for him. Between the two of them, they've been awarded 15 Grammys and been nominated over 50 times. Apparently, Bela Fleck has received Grammy nominations in more categories than any other person in the history of the award. Terrific show. Even if he is a banjo player. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Bela uses a Roland guitar synth on his banjo. Allows him to do crazy things with it. The drummer (Roy Wooten) plays a self-modified SynthAxe and his brother Victor Wooten is arguably one of the the best bass players in the world.
All in all a very class act.
There's a movie called "Throw Down Your Heart" in which Bela travels through Africa, studying the roots of the banjo. Very well done. |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I have been lucky enough to have seen bela Fleck at least a dozen times over the years. The first time I saw him was 1990. He was with a group called Spectrum, and their big "hit" was Red Rubber Ball (written by Paul Simon, made famous by a one hit wonder called "Circle"). Some of the older die-hard bluegrass fans at that festival were outraged at the band's lack of tradition. He was innovative then (I believe he was 16 or 17 at the time), and he has continued to stretch the boundaries ever since. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | cyrkle |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Originally posted by alpep:
cyrkle Yep, and they were two-hit wonders (Turn Down Day.) |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | ......ah can just see us all rocking and arguing on the porch now; "No, it was Dean Torrence killed in the car crash not Jan Berry!"
"No! He wasn't killed, just their career!"
On topic, saw/heard Bela Fleck (until then had thought her(his) name was Bell Affleck.) at the local music festival a few years back....definitely reinvents the instrument. And it needed it.
Sunday night we caught Fred Eaglesmith at The Waverly in Cumberland. (One of 'those places' that gets all the great acts you've never heard before.) He has a lead banjo player! Catch him when he comes your town (and he will) then you too can be a Fredhead. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Eaglesmith is great |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 354
Location: nashville | The rest of the Wooten clan play almost everyweek end here in Nashville at 3rd and Lindsy. Very talented musical family. As far as Bella Check out New Grass Revival 71 thur 89.
composed of Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, Ebo Walker, Curtis Burch, Butch Robins, John Cowan, Béla Fleck and Pat Flynn.
Bush is considered by most as the best Mando player going. |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | Caght Bela anf the 'Tones in Lowell, MA a few weeks ago myself. I haven't seen them in years, and I had never seen them with original member Howard Levy on piano and harmonica, he was amazing.
As much as I love watching Bela and am in awe of his chops on the banjo, Victor Wooten commands much of your attention. He was absolutely amazing. And how Futureman keeps time so well and doesn't lose his mind playing in 11/16 time and other funky meters is beyond me. Looked like he had a new Drumitar, and the sound was amazing. |
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Joined:
June 2011
Posts: 50
Location: Utah | Bela who? It is all about Victor Wooten for me with that band. |
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Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
