Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

Reviewed by: Sarah Efronson

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones' music is made for musicians. There is no singing incorporated into their bluegrass, jazz, pop influenced sound; but instead the band is focused all around the members' musical talent. Sean Sutta, a high school student, pointed out that about eighty percent of the audience, who attended the concert at the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre February 11, was bassists if not some other type of musician. It is understandable that most people would come to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for their talent as musicians as they have changed the sound of bluegrass.

The band consists of Bela Fleck (who the other members of the band say was good enough to name the band after), Victor "the Woo" Wooten, Victor's brother Roy Wooten (better known as Futureman) and Jeff Coffin ("who wear's his hair upside down"). Bela Fleck is considered to be the greatest banjo player in the world; he has been nominated for Grammys in jazz, bluegrass, pop, country, spoken word, Christian, composition and world music. Futureman (the percussionist) does not appear to be playing drums of any sort at first, but rather a strange multi-colored guitar with many buttons. This instrument is actually the Synth-Axe drumitiar, which allows him to control the percussion from a guitar. With such a wide variety of musical influences, sound and originality it was no surprise that every generation was present at the concert, from college students to grandparents.

The concert was very laid back; there were no barricades separating the band from the audience in the first row and ushers didn't come and yell at you for dancing in the aisles. The concert can only be described as a place to chill. The band went into long jam sessions and each member also had solos. In this sense the style is similar to that of Dave Matthews Band with whom they have not only toured with, but also collaborated with on several tracks on Before these Crowded Streets.
So if you're in the mood to relax and listen to some country/ jazz, check out one of the many Bela Fleck and the Flecktones recordings and hear some real musicians.