Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
From the opening notes of Live At The Quick (Columbia Records), Bela Fleck & the Flecktones present to their audience a rousing display of musicianship incorporating jazz, pop, bluegrass and elements of Indian, Asian and even classical music. Whether reveling in a monster jam or playing it straight during the melodies, the Flecktones reveal a talent bound by no rules, other than a spirit of boundless experimentation.
This concert CD and companion DVD, which offers a magnificent concert video experience plus numerous DVD extras, will be released on Feb. 26. The Flecktones, known for their live show, radiate during the nearly 80 minute set.
Much of the music performed during this concert was from the band’s Grammy Award-winning album Outbound. Fleck invited guest musicians who had played individually with the band in the past to come together for Live At The Quick, including tabla player Sandip Burman, steel pan player Andy Narell, bassoonist Paul Hanson, oboe player Paul McCandless and Tuvan throat singer Congar ol’Ondar.
In addition, on Feb. 26 the Flecktones will be back on the road playing theaters on the East Coast. Check the band’s web site, www.Flecktones.com, for complete tour dates. The band is also confirmed for the Oklahoma Blues Festival on May 3 and their annual spot at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 21. This marks Fleck’s 20th consecutive year performing at the 28-year-old Colorado festival.
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
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