The Béla Fleck Interview: The Journey of a Banjo Virtuoso
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Published 2024-01-02
Fleck's musical journey has been marked by his eclectic taste and a willingness to blend different genres. He began his professional career in the bluegrass world with the band New Grass Revival and later formed the genre-bending group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, which combined jazz, bluegrass, rock, and more.
Over his career, Fleck has won numerous Grammy Awards across various categories, showcasing his versatility. His collaborations with artists across different genres, from classical to jazz to African music, have further cemented his status as a musical pioneer. Notable collaborations include his work with the Marcus Roberts Trio, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain.
Fleck's influence extends beyond his virtuosity on the banjo. He is celebrated for pushing the boundaries of the instrument, bringing it into new musical contexts, and inspiring a new generation of musicians. His albums, such as "Drive," "Throw Down Your Heart," and "The Impostor," display a vast range of musical exploration and creativity.
Béla Fleck continues to tour, record, and collaborate, constantly redefining the banjo's place in the world of music.
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All Comments (21)
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Bela Fleck and Steve Morse in the same week!! We are not worthy...
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Watching Bela play his arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue was jaw dropping. The listening skill required to pick and choose from the original composition while preserving the entire vibe yet mapping it to the limitations of one instrument - ANY instrument - combined with the work ethic to master that performance is something very few on the planet can do.
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Love that you're interviewing people outside of the rock/guitar world 🔥 hearing from musicians who play different genres with other instruments is awesome
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I have to say what is really amazing is how incredibly articulate Bela is.
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I had the pleasure of working as a grunt engineer on a New Grass Revival album in the late 80s. I can still recall watching him practice in an iso booth while the other guys recorded their parts/overdubs...he practiced relentlessly despite the fact that he was already one of the best players on planet Earth. A true gentleman and wonderful human being. Great interview Rick!!
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Look at the Grammy's in the background! This guy is a legend!
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Rick, you deserve to be honored in the Rock and Roll hall of fame one day for your contributions to music overall, but especially these long-form interviews!
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If you’ve never heard his playing with New Grass Revival you need to check it out. Amazing!!
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Rick, so many legends in such a short space of time. Andy Summers, Steve Morse and now Bela Fleck, I can't keep up!! Great work! 👍
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Rick and Bela are both national treasures. We are so fortunate to be included in this conversation. Thank you both! 💜
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As a banjo player and long-time Rick Beato fan, this interview was a little bit of heaven to me. Super interesting questions and it seemed Bela really opened up and enjoyed the interview, too. Thank you both!
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When I listen to Béla, I can’t help but hear a little of Alex Lifeson in his manner of speech and just overall kindness and respect for the music.
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The album 'Drive' blew my mind when I first heard it. Still one of my favourite Bluegrass albums. Bela is an astonishing talent.
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Bela is so humble when talking about McLaughlin and Shakti. It’s very charming considering what a virtuoso he is on the banjo. I’ve seen him with the Flecktones and with Chick Corea. He’s the maestro. Great interview, Rick. You always get your guests to open up about their process.
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Really glad he took a moment to talk about the history of the instrument. Great interview
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"Bach was the Earl Scruggs of harmony." Best line of the day
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Bela was my late dad's favorite perfomer after I introduced him to the Flecktones years ago. Amazing performer and another fantastic interview!
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What a class act. What I love as much as Bela's music is his thoughtful, articulate views - like his comments on the racial context of the banjo pre-transition to guitar. And so low key. I bumped into him between shows upstairs at the Blue Note years ago and he talked like we were next door neighbors. Funny as a guitar player to have him as maybe my favorite musician. Will never get enough of the Telluride Sessions, the Flecktones, Africa sessions...
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Excellent choice. Not only is Bela off the beaten path, but he is a musician's musician - the very top of his profession. He is an incredible player and great story teller.
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Never heard of Bela until stumbling across the astonishing Transatlantic Sessions and watched him lead Jerry Douglas and other great musicians through “Big Country” in that stone house somewhere in Scotland. Watch many times. One of YouTube’s great gifts of discovery, like finding Rick Beato. 😊
