Béla Fleck
Perhaps the world’s greatest banjo player, Béla Fleck bends and blends bluegrass, jazz, and funk into the finest infusion. He spent nine years playing in the band New Grass Revival before forming Béla Fleck & the Flecktones in 1988 with bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist Roy “Future Man” Wooten, and harmonica player Howard Levy. When Levy left the group, the Flecktones played as a trio for five years, then adding saxophonist Jeff Coffin. For a jazzy flippin’ trip, take off on the “Flight of the Cosmic Hippo” or dribble down with “The Sinister Minister.” If you can catch a Live performance, it is bound to be seamless and intoxicating. Béla Fleck has won 12 Grammies, including 5 with the Flecktones, and has been nominated in more categories than any other musician in Grammy history.
Written by Leila Currah
