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By Todd Ethan
(c) Capital Coverage News Service
You interested in a little innovation? Then how about twisting and turning the bluegrass/Appalachian groove until it spills out with a little fusion Jazz. If you can dig that, then get out to you're local music stores and buy up whatever you can on Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.
Friday night, Cincinnati hosted Jammin on Main, and Jammin on Main featured Bela Fleck and The Flecktones. You wouldn't believe how many people I talked to, walking to Cinergy Stage, that told me they only came to see Bela. I was thinking, "What about the other bands?" Well to many, there weren't any other bands.
The Flecktones went on around 10:15 to an impatient crowd of partygoers and flat out outrageous fans. Fans who you might see at Dave Matthew's shows, or maybe Widespread Panic, completely surrounded the Cinergy stage, as even more "late arrivals" came to weave their way up front for better looks.
The Flecktones came out with a banjo, a bass guitar, saxophones, and a space age drum/guitar (compliments of the Future Man*).
Shortly after their introduction they started jamming, one following the next, all adding a personal touch to where they felt like taking the song. The bassist played his bass like an Upright, walking up and down the groove and adding a little off beat flavor. It was said that he was voted "Bassist of the Year" three time this year. Bela had his thing going on with the banjo, mixing his down-home style with an occasional overdrive, plug-in, electric version of the banjo.
And when the horn section (one man) felt like it, he'd start in with either a tenor sax, a barotone sax, or maybe two saxophones at once. You know, just to throw you off.
The way they felt their ways through the jam was almost magical. Seemed like all of them were off in opposite directions but staying in same world. A band that know's their song's to a point that they can trust everyone's going to be right where they need to be, leaves room for the innovation I was speaking of.
This type of live performance is, in my opinion, the truest for self-expression through music.
Everybody dances at a Flecktone show, all worries and trouble are set aside, and you just dance. I'm tellin ya, it's a groove from the future. Experience Bela Fleck and the Flecktones!
*The Future Man was given this name because he invented what looked like a drum/guitar synthesizer, whereas you'd play percussion with a pedal and the notes on the fretboard. A typical beat would have been impressive, but the Future man would go on to throw samples, double beats, and whatever else he has up his sleeve at the time. And get this, he sings too.
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Bela Fleck at Jammin' on Main-- REVIEW (c) 1999 Capital Coverage