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Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck performing on February 9, 2007.
Béla Fleck performing on February 9, 2007. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
Background information
Birth nameBéla Anton Leoš Fleck
BornJuly 10, 1958 (1958-07-10) (age 49)
New York City, New York, U.S.
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genre(s)Bluegrass
Jazz fusion
Folk
Classical
Occupation(s)Songwriter, composer, musician
Instrument(s)Banjo
Years active1978–present
Associated actsBéla Fleck and the Flecktones
TRIO!
Strength in Numbers
New Grass Revival
Websitewww.BélaFleck.com

Béla Fleck (born July 10, 1958 in New York City, New York) is an American virtuoso banjo player. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country music. Fusion or more specifically jazz fusion or jazz rock, is a Musical genre that merges Jazz with elements of other styles of music particularly Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The banjo is a Stringed instrument developed by enslaved Africans in the United States, adapted from several African instruments Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a multi- Grammy winning primarily instrumental group from the USA, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion TRIO! was an acoustic Jazz fusion supergroup, formed in mid 2005. Strength In Numbers was a bluegrass supergroup formed in the late 1980s New Grass Revival was a Progressive bluegrass band from 1971 to 1989. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso, late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus meaning skill manliness excellence is an individual The banjo is a Stringed instrument developed by enslaved Africans in the United States, adapted from several African instruments He is best known for his work with the band Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, with bassist Victor Wooten, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, and percussionist Future Man. Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a multi- Grammy winning primarily instrumental group from the USA, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an electric bass player Jeff Coffin (born August 5, 1965) is an American Jazz musician Roy Wilfred Wooten (born October 13, 1957 in Hampton, Virginia) better known by his Stage name Future Man (also spelled

Contents

Life and early career

Béla Anton Leoš Fleck, who is named after famous Hungarian composer Béla Bartók and Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček, was drawn to the banjo when he first heard Earl Scruggs play the theme song for the television show Beverly Hillbillies. Béla Viktor János Bartók (March 25 1881&ndashSeptember 26 1945 was a Hungarian Composer and Pianist, considered to be one of the greatest Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( (often pronounced in English as; DVOR-zhahk; September 8 1841 – May 1 1904 was a Czech composer of Romantic music, who employed Leoš Janáček ( (July 3 1854 &ndash August 12 1928 was a Czech Composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher Earl Eugene Scruggs (born January 6, 1924) is a musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger style (now called Scruggs style) on the 5-string The Beverly Hillbillies is an American Television series about a Hillbilly family transplanted to Beverly Hills California after finding He received his first banjo at age fifteen from his grandfather (1973). [1][2] He was a member of the class of 1970 at P. S. 75 (the Emily Dickinson School) in Manhattan. Later, Fleck enrolled in New York City's High School of Music and Art where he studied the French horn, though he couldn't make a sound on it. Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, also officially known as "H He was a banjo student under Tony Trischka. Tony Trischka (born January 16, 1949 in Syracuse New York) is an American five-string Banjo virtuoso with a remarkable picking style

Almost immediately after high school, Fleck traveled to Boston to play with Jack Tottle and Mark Schatz in Tasty Licks. During this period, Fleck released his first solo album (1979): Crossing the Tracks and made his first foray into progressive-bluegrass composition. Progressive bluegrass, also known as newgrass (a term attributed to New Grass Revival member Ebo Walker is one of two major subgenres of Bluegrass music

Fleck played on the streets of Boston with bassist Mark Schatz; and the two formed Spectrum: the Band in 1981. Fleck toured with Spectrum until 1981. That year, Sam Bush asked Fleck to join New Grass Revival. Sam Bush (b April 13, 1952 in Bowling Green, Kentucky) is an American bluegrass Mandolin player considered New Grass Revival was a Progressive bluegrass band from 1971 to 1989. Fleck performed with New Grass Revival for nine years. During this time, Fleck recorded another solo album, Drive. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in the then first-time category of Best Bluegrass Album (1988). The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

Fleck (right) with Victor Wooten.
Fleck (right) with Victor Wooten. Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an electric bass player

Bela Fleck and Victor Wooten formed Béla Fleck and the Flecktones in 1988, rounded out with harmonica player Howard Levy and Wooten's percussionist brother Roy "Future Man" Wooten, who played synthesizer-based percussion. Howard Levy (b July 31, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York City) is an American Harmonica player and pianist. Roy Wilfred Wooten (born October 13, 1957 in Hampton, Virginia) better known by his Stage name Future Man (also spelled Levy left the group in 1992, making the band a trio until Saxophonist Jeff Coffin joined the group onstage part-time in 1997, eventually becoming a permanent member. Jeff Coffin (born August 5, 1965) is an American Jazz musician His first studio recording with the band was their 1998 album Left of Cool. In 1996 he appeared on the tribute Album to Hank Marvin one of his influences and The Shadows "Twang" playing a Shadows UK hit from the 1960s "The Stranger". Brian Robson Rankin (born 28 October 1941) Newcastle upon Tyne, known by the Stage name Hank B The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s

With the Flecktones, Fleck has been nominated for and won several Grammy awards. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

Other music and recordings

Fleck has shared Grammy wins with Asleep at the Wheel, Alison Brown, and Edgar Meyer. Asleep at the Wheel, is a multiple Grammy Award -winning Country / Western Swing band formed in Paw Paw West Virginia, but based in Austin Alison Brown (born August 7 1962 is an American Banjo player and Guitarist known for a soft nylon-string banjo sound Edgar Meyer (born November 24, 1960) is a prominent contemporary bassist. He has been nominated in more categories than any other musician, namely country, pop, jazz, bluegrass, classical, folk, spoken word, composition, and arranging. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country music. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Spoken word is a form of literary Art or artistic performance in which Lyrics, Poetry, or stories are spoken rather than sung Musical composition is an original piece of Music the structure of a musical piece the process of creating a new In Music, an arrangement refers either to a rewriting of a piece of existing Music with additional new material or to a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch such

Béla Fleck at Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
Béla Fleck at Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

In 2001, Fleck collaborated with long-time friend and playing-partner Edgar Meyer to record Perpetual Motion, an album of classical material played on the banjo along with an assortment of accompanists, including John Williams, Evelyn Glennie, Joshua Bell and Gary Hoffman. Edgar Meyer (born November 24, 1960) is a prominent contemporary bassist. Perpetual Motion is an album of classical music released in 2001 John Christopher Williams (born 24 April 1941 is a Grammy Award winning Australian-born British Classical guitarist Biography Born in Melbourne Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, DBE (born July 19 1965 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish virtuoso Percussionist. Joshua David Bell (born 9 December 1967) is an American Grammy Award -winning Violinist. The album includes such staggeringly difficult selections as Chopin's Etude Op. An étude (a French word meaning study) is an instrumental Musical composition, most commonly of considerable difficulty usually designed to provide practice 10 No. 4 in C# minor, Debussy's Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, and Paganini's Moto Perpetuo (from which is derived the name), as well as more lyrical pieces such as the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, two of Chopin's mazurkas, and two Scarlatti keyboard sonatas. Achille-Claude Debussy (aʃil klod dəbysi (August 22 1862 &ndash March 25 1918 was a French Composer. Children's Corner is a Suite for solo Piano by Claude Debussy, completed in 1908 (L 113 Niccolò Paganini ( October 27, 1782 &ndash Perpetuum mobile ( Latin) moto perpetuo ( Italian) mouvement perpétuel ( French) literally meaning Ludwig van Beethoven ( English ˈlʊdvɪg væn ˈbeɪtoʊvən, 16 December 1770 &ndash 26 March 1827 was a German Composer and Pianist. The Piano Sonata No 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op The mazurka is a stylized Polish Folk dance in Triple meter with a lively tempo that has a heavy accent on the third or second beat Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti (October 26 1685 – July 23 1757 was a Neapolitan Composer who spent much of his life in Spain and Portugal. Usage of sonata The Baroque applied the term sonata to a variety of works though most works in the Baroque Period were fugues and toccatas Perpetual Motion won two Grammys at the Grammy Awards of 2002 for Best Classical Crossover Album and Best Arrangement for Fleck and Meyer's arrangement of Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum. The 44th Grammy Awards were held on February 27, 2002. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year Fleck and Meyer have also composed a Banjo concerto that has been played numerous times with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The term Concerto (plural concertos or concerti) usually refers to a three part musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an Orchestra The Nashville Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Nashville Tennessee.

Fleck names Chick Corea, Charlie Parker and the aforementioned Earl Scruggs as influences. Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Earl Eugene Scruggs (born January 6, 1924) is a musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger style (now called Scruggs style) on the 5-string He regards Scruggs as "certainly the best" banjo player of the three-finger style. [3]

Solo and with the Flecktones, Fleck has appeared at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Merlefest, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Bonnaroo, and Jazzfest, among others. The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is held annually in Telluride Colorado by Planet Bluegrass MerleFest is an annual Americana Music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina at Wilkes Community College at the end of The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM (Eng Montreal International Jazz Festival also called the Jazz Fest, is the largest Jazz festival in the The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk -oriented Music festival in Newport Rhode Island, which began in 1959 The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day music and art festival in Austin Texas 's Zilker Park. The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day annual Music festival, created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, first held in 2002 The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the Music and Culture of New Orleans and

He has also appeared as a sideman with artists ranging from Tony Rice to Ginger Baker and Phish. This article is for the guitarist For the former football player see Tony Rice (football player. Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (born 19 August 1939 Lewisham, South London) is an English Drummer. Phish is an American Jam band noted for their Musical improvisation, extended Jam sessions and cult following

In 2005, while the Flecktones were on hiatus, Fleck undertook several new projects. These included recording with African traditional musicians; cowriting a documentary film called Bring it Home about the Flecktones' first year off in 17 years and their reunion after that time; coproducing Song of the Traveling Daughter, the debut album by Abigail Washburn, a young banjo player who mixes bluegrass and Chinese music; and forming the acoustic fusion supergroup TRIO! with fellow virtuosos Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke. Abigail Washburn (born November 10, 1979 in Evanston Illinois) is an American Clawhammer Banjo player and singer Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country music. The Music of China dates back to the dawn of Chinese civilization with documents and artefacts providing evidence of a well-developed musical culture as A fusion genre is a music genre which combines two or more genres TRIO! was an acoustic Jazz fusion supergroup, formed in mid 2005. Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942, Avranches, France) is a virtuoso French Violinist and Jazz Composer Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American Jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on Double He also recorded an album as a member of the Sparrow Quartet, along with Abigail Washburn, Ben Sollee, and Casey Driessen. The Sparrow Quartet is an American Acoustic music group that formed in 2005 The Sparrow Quartet is an American Acoustic music group that formed in 2005 Casey Christopher Driessen (b Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, December 6, 1978) is an American bluegrass Fiddler

Fleck performs with Chick Corea, March 1, 2008
Fleck performs with Chick Corea, March 1, 2008

In late 2006, Fleck teamed up with Chick Corea to record an album that was scheduled to be released in May of 2007. Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Fleck and Corea were touring together throughout 2007.

In July 2007 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, he appeared and jammed with Toumani Diabate, the world famous kora player from Mali.

In November 2007 at the Bologna Jazz Festival (Italy) he met an Italian guitarist Filippo Stefanoni (as highlited from a famous picture).

In December 2007 he performed charity concerts in Germany to help promote AIDS awareness. His largest concert was held in Grosse Halle Bern on 1st December, 2007.

Banjos played

Deering Crossfire Banjo made by the Deering Banjo Company
Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star made by the Deering Banjo Company
Deering John Hartford banjo made by Deering Banjo Company

Discography

Solo/with multiple other musicians

As part of a musical group

Tasty Licks

Spectrum

The New Grass Revival

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

One-off collaborations

As a guest musician

Sam Bush

Curandero

Dave Matthews Band

Eddie From Ohio

Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra

Jorma Kaukonen

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Charlie Peacock

Phish

Keller Williams

Bruce Hornsby

Grammy awards

Grammy nomination

Notes and references

  1. ^ PBS Interview with Béla Fleck
  2. ^ Interview with Bela, 21Apr96
  3. ^ PBS Interview with Béla Fleck

References

External links

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