It was Future Man that hit the nail on the head when he was introducing Béla Fleck, calling the banjoist an absolute master and visionary for wanting to bring the banjo into jazz music. The Flecktones are heady jazz through and through; don’t let Fleck’s bluegrass tones fool you. The band recently reunited for their first shows since 2012, playing a short but sweet two week run on the way to Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Their stop at the Capitol Theatre was a work of beauty, treating fans to an instrumental odyssey that captivated at every turn.
At the crux of the Flecktones is incredible musicianship. Aside from the band’s namesake, the band features brothers Victor and Roy Wooten, the latter best known as “Future Man.” Additionally, multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy has made his return to the Flecktones. Levy was a founding member, but left in the 1990’s and was replaced by Jeff Coffin. As Coffin joined the Dave Matthews Band, it was up to Levy to help rekindle the “original” Flecktones magic. Fortunately, the group had a lot to say when they hit the Cap.
All four are tremendous musicians, bringing a unique slice to the tight-knit core of the band. Fleck alternated between a traditional and custom electric banjo throughout the night, while Victor Wooten offered some funky tones with his arsenal of basses. Futureman kept the rhythm rocking with an incredibly unique instrument, dubbed a drumitar. Somewhere between a drum machine and a guitar, Futureman would stand up at times and sit down at others, but one hand was always rocking along on that drumitar. Rounding out the ensemble was Levy, who alternated between piano and harmonica primarily, at times peppering the music with juice harp or other percussion tactics.
To attempt a description at the music would do it an injustice, because the sheer talents of each member came together to go well beyond the sum of its parts. Together, the four musicians captivated for a full two set performance, keeping fans at the edge of their seats throughout the show. There was a unanimous feeling of reverence from the crowd, as the four awe-inspiring musicians led listeners through an aural journey.
Thanks to taper Kevin Antaya, we can listen to the whole show. Tune in below.
If you have the chance to see this band live, do not miss it. They are truly masters of their craft, and seeing them perform was a true gift.
[Photo by the Capitol Theatre]