Conference mr1pst::music

    
    Hi, I am a temporary employee and will only be around for another two
    months, so I can't take part in any involved discussion, unfortunately.
    
    However, I must say this:
    
    If you have a chance to see this band, I mean if they appear in a 200-mile
    radius of you, GO SEE THEM!
    
    They are the most unbeleivably talented performers!  I couldn't get
    into the album until I saw them live in Toronto, where they totally
    blew the roof off.  
    
    Quirky, innovative, original stuff.  A band you just have to claim for
    your own.
    
    Incidentally, I like the two albums equally well.
    
    Frank
    

    They're recording a new album, should be in the stores in August.
    
    Scott
    

    
    I had the pleasure of meeting/knowing the Keyboardist (Howard Levy)
    before he played with Bela Fleck. He'd played in a HOT Brazilian Jazz
    group back home in Chicago called Chevere with my older brother.
    My Brother said the same thing about Bela's live performances.
    He opened for them down in Miami recently and said that they are 
    really HOT !!!
    Howard is kinda stuck on himself though.... :').
    
    Todd

    
    
     ..Doesn't the keyboardist also play harmonica?  On a recent broadcast
    of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival about 3 weeks ago, Bela Fleck and Co.
    were on. I was duly impressed at their fresh (and unique) sound.
    Ther're different, that's all there it is to it. Electric Banjo? Who'd
    a thought?   I like their percussionist as well, although for the life
    of me can't figure out what it is he plays or how he plays it. It sort
    of looked like a cross between a short-necked sitar and those
    "strap-around your neck" keyboards.  
    
     That particular episode of the J-Jazz Fest also featured Chick Corea
    and the Elektric band, Diana Shurre (sp?) and Auturo (trumpet player)
    Sanibell (?) I think.   If it's listed in your area, watch it. One hour
    of riveting, stimulating music.  2-thumbs UP for Bela. 
    
        - Rick

re: .4
    
>     ..Doesn't the keyboardist also play harmonica? 

Yup.  Sure does.

>                                                ... Electric Banjo? Who'd
>   a thought?

Yeah, what's really funny about it is that Bela used to be a bluegrass
player.  I've been following his stuff for a long time.

>   I like their percussionist as well, although for the life
>    of me can't figure out what it is he plays or how he plays it. It sort
>    of looked like a cross between a short-necked sitar and those
>    "strap-around your neck" keyboards.  
    
He calls it a "drumitar".  Kind of looks like a wierd electric guitar
with buttons and pads all over it.  The pads trigger various electronic
percussion sounds.  Although the drumitar (sp?) player nowadays seems
to call himself "Future Man", he's actually the brother of Victor Wooten,
the bass player.

It's hard to decide, but I might actually be most impressed by the bass
player.  Damn, he was impressive!  Definitely a "must see" band in my
opinion.

-Hal

    
    
     I agree. The bass player was quite good, especially in his extended 'slap'
     solo where he was actually quoting JS Bach.  You're also right about
    the drummer being the 'future' man. He certainly *appeared* to be from 
    there.  Did you happen to see the special I was referring to? It was on
    the PBS station out of Manchester, NH.

re: .6
    
>    there.  Did you happen to see the special I was referring to? It was on
>    the PBS station out of Manchester, NH.

No, I saw them live last summer.

    
    Re .4 
    
    >  Doesn't the keyboardist also play harmonica?
    
    Does he ever!  He holds down the chords on the piano with his left hand
    while playing wicked syncopated solos on the harp.  In our show, he
    also did an act playing two harmonicas simutaneously, and he was
    playing a different melody on each one.  (Don't ask how)
    
    He also does not use a normal (chromatic) harmonica.  He plays a
    "blues" harp which is only supposed to provide 7 (I think) notes.
    Somehow, he "finds" the rest of the notes.
    
    These guys are like a travelling freak show. (and that is not meant as
    an insult)
    
    BTW, I don't think he's Hungarian, because my friend had him sign a
    Bela Bartok music book (it was the closest thing he could find :-) ), 
    and he had never heard of Bartok.  Listening to Bartok has got to be
    some kind of prerequisite to being Hungarian.  :-) 
    
    Frank
    

A friend of mine has had harmonica instruction from Howard Levy and reported 
some pretty astonishing things, like playing very chromatic tunes on a 
diatonic harp.  Apparently, he can hit the bent note without sliding into it.
I can understand this, in theory, but it must take a *lot* of practice (or 
magic) to do it accurately in a fast tune.

Bob

    
    
      Just caught them the other night on TV. Jazz banjo. Wild. Kind of
    Japanese kyoto sounding, sometimes...
    The drummer uses a modified Synthaxe to trigger drum samples.
    Best damn harmonic player I've ever heard!!!
    
    RichC
    

    
    If anyone happens to come across a schedule for the Flecktones to
    perform in the New England area please post it here.
    My Brother highly recommends seeing these guys saying that they're the
    most innovative thing that he's seen/heard in a long time. 
    
    Todd

    
    	Rich C is right.  The drummer plays a SynthAxe - folks in here
    	know it thru Alan Holdsworth.  I'm almost positive the one the
    	drummer uses is one that Lee Ritenour used for awhile.  He just
    	uses drum samples instead of what Alan or Lee would use.
    
    	Pretty wild stuff - very musical !
    
    	Tom
    

    I think he calls it a Drumitar.

    
    	They're on TNN tonight (live) at 9:00 with Molly and the
    	Heymakers.  No idea who they are.
    
    	Tom
    

    Their latest album, UFO Tofu, hit the stores yesterday.
    
    Scott
    

    
    Bela and the Wootens appear on the new album of Nashville violin wonder
    Mark O' Connor.  Interesting record, called "The New Nashville Cats" or
    something like that.
    
    Frank
    

    Bela is coming to the Berklee Performance Arts Center (in Boston) 
    on November 15th. Tickets are $15.00, you can call Ticketmaster 
    1-617-931-2000 for tix.  I just got my tickets in the mail Saturday - 4
    tickets 4th row center (D 105-108 ORCH)..  YYEEAAHHHH!!...
    
    They are also playing in NYC:
    	Blue Note	 November 9th
    	Wetlands	 November 10th
    	Knitting Factory November 11th
    
    -danielle

    After reading the great reviews of this band here in the notesfile and
    after my wife was blown away with their performance on the Today show,
    I bought tickets to see them at Berklee.  The show was last night.
    I am still smiling.  Each of these musicians is incredible in his own
    domain. Put them all together and you get a stage full of dynamite.
    
    Totally awe-inspiring. 
    
    Now I MUST know more about the drumitar.  Someone said it's a modified
    Synthaxe.  Well, I had my binoculars last night and, sure enough, it
    has a Synthaxe logo on the body.  But it's so wildly painted (looks sort
    of like a bile of junk, actually), it's hard to see where the actual 
    triggers are.  Who can tell me more?  Where can I get one, or something
    like it?  What is a Synthaxe, anyway?  If it keyboard-based?
    Help?  Inquiring minds want to know.
    
    	Willy  
    a 

		
	I just picked up UFO TOFO, love it!!!  Mr Levy is a great harp
	player. He makes the harp sound very much like a clarinette
	in one song. I suspect he is using either Natural Minor harps
	or Melody Maker harps (both by Lee Oscar) both are tuned quite
	different than normal major diatonic scaled harps.  The notes
	he plays on certain songs are not possible on a normal blues harp,
	even with bends, the notes simply aren't there......
	

	Its not just the harp though , the guy really is a GREAT harp
	player.  Incredible technique, especially the double tunguing(SP?)
	he does.  The killer is that the liner notes state that
	"if you hear keyboards and harp at the same time, chances are
	better than not that he's playing both simultaneously".  
	Damm......

	I'll be picking up the earlier releases as soon as I can 
	afford them.


	Steve

    I saw them in concert.  Yes, he does play the harp and keys at the same
    time.  What you hear on the recording is what he plays live.  If you
    ever get a chance to see them live, do it!  You won't regret it.
    
    	Willy

    Howard Levy has left the band to persue solo projects...the Flecktones
    now consist of a trio...I saw them in March without Howard, and they still 
    sound good, although it isn't the same without the keyboards and 
    harmonica....
    
    /danielle :)

    So wheres Howard ?   I would be very interested in any solo 
    project he might do.
    
    
    Debone (^!^)

    Bela & the Flecktones are coming to Sanders Theatre in Cambridge! 
    Monday 22 November, 8:00 pm.  Tickets from Sanders box office,
    617-496-2222 (don't know prices).
    
    And I can't make it that night...arghhh.. :-(
    
    -Lance-

    They are alo playing at Lupo's in Providence Sun. Nov. 21
    Ticket info (401)421-1698 ??

    
         Does anyone have some updated info on Bela and his
    Flecktones?  I was listening to UFOTofu this morning,
    blown away as usual, when the ever popular "what are they
    up to now" question began to bouce around in my head.
    
    Kev --
    

    
    	They had another, called "Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
    
    	I haven't listened to it in awhile, so I really can't say
    	how well it compares to "UFO Tofu".
    
    	But it IS alot better than "High Tension Wires".  [And there
    	is probably only 1 person in here who will understand that.
    	8^)]
    
    							GTI

    
    > "Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
    
    So I take it that Howard Levy DID in fact, do the disappearing
    act.  Too bad, this fella was amazing in the Flecktones format.
    
    Kev --
    
    

    >>      Does anyone have some updated info on Bela and his
    >>     Flecktones?
    
    Here's their schedule:
    
    August 
    2  	Birchmere     			Alexandria, VA
    3  	Birchmere     			Alexandria, VA
    5	Planting Fields Arboretum	Oyster Bay NY
    	   w/Special EFX and Stanley Jordan
    6  	Count Basie     		Red Bank, NJ
    28 	Towne Point Jazz     		Norfolk, VA
    31  Beaver Creek Pavillion		Avon, CO
     
    
    September
    1-2 Botanical Gardens       	Denver, CO
    3	Strawberry Music Fest   	Sorona, CA
    4  	Winery  			Saratoga, CA
    7   The Catalyst            	Santa Cruz, CA
    9   Fillmore West           	San Fransisco, CA
    10  Russian Fiver Fest      	Guernville, CA
    13  Mill Camp 			Eugene, OR
    14 	? Spokane, WA ?
    15 	? Portland, OR ?
    16  Whitman College         	Walla Walla, WA
    17 	Unv of Puget Sound 		Tacoma, Wa
    18 	? Vancouver ?
    21 	Humphry's			San Diego, CA
    22 	Las Vegas, NV
    23  Occidental College      	Los Angeles, CA
    28	Bela at Blair			Nashville, TN
    29	River Front			Nashville, TN
    
    October
    21 	Literary Club 			Grand Rapids, Mi
    22 	Mich Tech U.			Houghton, MI
    27 	Miller Chapel			Annville, PA
    28 	Troy Savings Bank		Troy, NY
    29 	Flynn Theater			Burlington, VT
    
    November
    4 	Club Bene NJ
    5 	IMAC 				Huntington, NY
    10 	Bowdoin Col 			Brunswick, Me
    11 	Music Hall 			Portsmouth, NH
    12 	Lehigh U 			Bethlehem, Pa
                                   

    When BF&tF played the Warner Theatre in Cambridge, MA recently,
    Howard Levy was not there so, yeah, I think he's officially no
    longer a member.  Too bad - great harp!
    
    I'd love to post a recent article from rec.music.info listing upcoming
    tour dates, but the article has fallen off the server (it was posted on
    8 July).  The tours listed were in July through November.  Of interest
    to me (and other New Englanders - don't know where you're located Kev,
    you're not in ELF) is that Bela, Victor, and Future Man will be playing
    the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH on 11/11/1994.  That's a great venue!
    
    The post mentions merchandise info available at:
    
    Flecktones World Headquarters
    PO Box 91076
    Nashville, TN  37209
    
    Enjoy!
    
    -Dan
    

    Wow!  Notes collision.
    
    What he said.
    

    Can't believe there's no note about Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
    
    I went to their show in Manchester on Friday and was just blown away.
    I love these guys.   As good as their albums are, you just can't
    appreciate them unless you seem them live.
    
    Great music, incredible musicianship, great crowd repore.
    
    I also crown Vic Wooten as the undisputed (IMHO) king of the bass
    guitar.   I talked to a few bass players who were at the show and
    they're all selling their basses!
    
    Wooten not only did the only bass solo section I've ever seen that was
    worth listening too, I think I would go to a one-man bass concert if he
    gave one.
    
    I only have the "UFO Tofu" album.   What should I get next.   Of
    course, I was so blown away that it's hard to resist just going out
    and buying everything I can find.
    
    	db
    
    p.s. OK, actually Stu Hamm also does interesting bass solos 

    
    	I prefer the self-titled album, if only for 2 songs:
    
    	"Tell it to the Guv'nor"
    	"Hurricane Camille"
    
    	As I told another noter, I could swear I hear what I believe
    	to be a few seconds of 2-hand tapping by Bela on one of these
    	songs.
    
    	Not sure if Vic is playing bass on this one ... haven't heard
    	it in awhile.
    

>>    guitar.   I talked to a few bass players who were at the show and
>>    they're all selling their basses!
    
    So were there any good deals? :-)
    
    The only recording of theirs I'm realy familiar with is the first, and
    I've heard some people comment that they like this one best.  I believe
    "Ufo Tofu" is their latest, and as such does not include original Flecktone
    keyboardist/harmonica/etc player Howard Levy?  Or is he back?  If not, you
    defintely want to check out at least one of the first two CDs; he brought
    a whole other dimension to the band.
    
    And really, as you say, this band is best appreciated live.
    
    /rick

  FWIW, there are Fleck-related topics in EICMFG::JAZZ (topic 360) and
  COOKIE::FOLK_MUSIC (forget the topic # -- search for Fleck as it's not
  exclusively a Flecktones topic).  Probably elsewhere as well...  - Jay

>    The only recording of theirs I'm realy familiar with is the first, and
>    I've heard some people comment that they like this one best.  I believe
>    "Ufo Tofu" is their latest, and as such does not include original Flecktone
>    keyboardist/harmonica/etc player Howard Levy?  Or is he back?  
    
    No, he's on "UFO Tofu".   Their latest album (which I believe has a
    title with something about "Hippos") is the one he's not on.  I believe
    they currently have 3 albums.
    
    A 4th album is coming out very shortly which I think is titled
    something like "Tales From the Acoustic Planet".
    
    Thanks for the information.  Sounds like the first album is the "next"
    for me to check out.  It's hard for me to imagine any album without
    Levy being as good, although they do well enough without him live.
    
    If anyone else is wondering what this band is like, I'd have to say
    that if you can imagine the Dixie Dregs with a triple-dose of bluegrass
    influence, that's what the Flecktones are like.
    
    Lots of their tunes sound like something Morse might write for a band
    with this instrumentation.  However, that's NOT to imply that these
    guys are anything less than 200% original.   This band oozes
    originality - they are quite unique.
    
    	db

    
    	In order:
    
    	"Bela Fleck and the Flecktones"		DDD
    	"Flight of the Cosmic Hippo"		DDD
    	"UFO Tofu"				DAD
    	"Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
    

    	Are they doing any other New England shows ?? I have seen them
    	twice.. and they are Amazing!!!!

Their sound guy/road manager Richard Battaglia posts the tour schedule regularly
to alt.music.bela-fleck (see below).  Looks like you missed them this time
around, unless you want to take a jaunt down to MD :-)

UFO Tofu is my favorite, and the first album is also excellent.  3 Flew took me
a while to get into, but now I think I like it as much as the first.  If
anything, Victor is even more prominent on that album than on the ones with
Levy.  There's one tune where he does 3-part harmonies on the bass, with the
individual strings panned to various points in the stereo field...it really
sounds like 3 instruments...

-Lance-

Article 2300 of alt.music.bela-fleck:
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r-mail
From: flecktones@aol.com (Flecktones)
Newsgroups: alt.music.bela-fleck
Subject: Dates Update 3/27/95
Date: 27 Mar 1995 00:35:49 -0500
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ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE***CALL BEFORE DRIVING*****
PLEASE NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGES!!!
 3/25/95   Theater Three , Port Jefferson , LI, NY , 516-928-9100 
 3/26/95   Sheraton Berkshire Hotel Ballroom , Reading , Pa , 610-376-3811

 3/29/95   The Water Hole #3 , Saranac Lake , NY , 518-891-9502 
 3/30/95   Smith Opera House for the Arts , Geneva , NY , 315-789-2221 
 3/31/95   Palace Theater , Manchester , NH , 603-668-5588 
 4/1/95   Chesapeake Ballroom@HolidayInn , Solomons , Md , 410-326-6311 
 4/8/95   Cravens Hall , Sewanee , Tn ,
 4/15/95   Saturday Night Live , NYC , NY ,
 
 4/21/95   Coronet Theater , Evanston , Il , 708-733-0780 
 4/22/95   State Theater , Kalamazoo , Mi , 616-345-6500 
 4/23/95   Mountain Stage Cultural Cnt Thea , Charleston , WV ,
304-558-0220 
 4/24/95   TBA,
 4/25/95   TBA,
 4/26/95   The Maintenance Shop Iowa St U , Ames , Ia ,
 4/27/95   Hammons Hall SW Mich St U , Springfield , Mo ,
 4/28/95   Madison Theater , Peoria , Il , 309-674-7529 
 4/29/95   Capital Arts Center , Bowling Green , Ky , 502-782-2785 
 4/30/95   Merle Watson Fest , Wilkesboro , NC , 910-651-8625 
   5/2/95   Whitney Auditorium , Louisville , Ky ,
 5/3/95   Kentucky Theater , Lexington , Ky , 606-231-6997 
 5/4/95   Bijou , Knoxville , Tn ,
 5/5/95   Paramount Theater , Ashland , Ky , 606-324-3175 
 5/6/95   Municipal Auditorium , Morganton , NC ,
 5/7/95   Sun Fest , Palm Beach , Fl ,
 5/8/95   TBA  ,
 5/9/95   TBA , Atlanta , Ga ,
 5/13/95   Appalachian Festival , Cincinatti , Oh , 606-431-0416 
 5/20/95 - 5/21/95 , 21st Annual Frederick Crafts Fair , Frederick , Md ,
 5/23/95   Ryman Auditorium , Nashville , Tn , 615-254-1445 
 5/28/95   Juneau Jazz Fest Douglas HS , Juneau , Ak ,
 6/2/95   BELA ONLY - Kapalua Music Fest , Maui , Hawaii ,
 6/3/95   Main Street Music Fest , San Bernardino , Ca ,
 6/5/95   Maui Arts & Cultural Center , Maui , Hawaii ,
 6/7/95   Humphry's , San Diego , Ca ,
 6/8/95   House of Blues , LA , Ca ,
 6/9/95   Temple of Music & Art , Tuscon , Az ,
 6/10/95   Center for the Performing Arts , Scottsdale , Az ,
 6/13/95   Filmore , San Fran , Ca ,
 6/16/95   Telluride Music Fest , Telluride , Co ,
 6/21/95   The Pyramid , Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada ,
 6/23/95   Westin Hotel Ballroom , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada ,
 6/24/95   Uptown Stage , Calgary, Alberta , Canada ,
 6/25/95   Broadway Theater , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan , Canada ,
 6/28/95   The Marquee, Toronto , Canada ,
 6/29/95   Le D'Auteuil Club , Quebec City, Quebec , Canada ,
 6/30/95   Jazz Festival , Montreal , Canada ,
 7/1/95   TBA  ,
 7/2/95   TBA  ,
 7/3/95   Jazzamataz , Ormond Beach , Fl ,
 7/21/95   House of Blues , New Orleans , La ,
 7/23/95   Penn Valley Park , Kansas City , Mo ,
 8/6/95   Charles Ives Ctr. for the Arts , Danbury  , Ct ,
 8/13/95   Door Comunity Auditorium , Fishcreek , Wi ,
 9/4/95   Bummbershoot , Seattle , Wa ,
 11/2/95   Buffallo State College  ,
 11/3/95   Golden Center for PAC , Flushing , NY ,
 11/3/95   Queens College , Flushing , NY ,
 11/4/95   John Harms Theater , Englewood , NJ ,

    From looking at that schedule you posted... GEEZ those guys work hard!

re: .8

>    From looking at that schedule you posted... GEEZ those guys work hard!

What impresses me is that a band playing such non-mainstream music can
get that much work.

-Hal

    Ha ha, reminds me of a line from Bruford.  He once said he liked King
    Crimson because it was the only gig where he could play in 17/8 and
    still stay in nice hotels.
    

    
    	The band:
    
    	Bela Fleck
    	Vic Wooten
    	Roy Wooten
    	Howard Levy
    
    	1-4 played on the 1st 3 albums, and 1-3 played on the last.
    

    
    Bela Fleck and the 'Tones are amazing!  Yeah, too bad Howard
    Levy isn't still with them.  Incredible harp player, this one.
    Why did he leave anyhow?!?  I caught them on the "Today Show"
    a *long* time ago and then on a live PBS jazz thing (the one
    with Chick Corea on it as well) some time later.  I remember
    snaggin' UfoToFu the very next day.
    
    db, did they touch heavily off UfoToFu?  I love the opening
    cut off that CD, especially that bent bass harmonic Vic throws
    in there!!!  True bass INSANITY!!!!  BTW, get everything they
    have done.  You won't be disappointed.
    
    Kev --
    (bummed I missed the show!)
    

    If I remember correctly, Howard Levy left the Flecktones to spend more
    time with his family and pursue solo projects. 
    
    It was really weird when he stopped playing with the Flecktones, it
    took me a couple of shows to get used to it.  But now I forget he was
    even in the band.  
    
    Did Bela and Victor swap instruments this last show?  The last few
    times I saw the Flecktones, Bela played the bass and Victor played
    banjo for a song or two...
                              

    >Did Bela and Victor swap instruments this last show?  The last few times
    >I saw the Flecktones, Bela played the bass and Victor played banjo for
    >a song or two...
    
    Yes they did.  And in fact, not only did Vic do one of the most amazing
    bass solos I've ever seen, I would have to say that even Bela's bass
    solo was far more interesting than most bass solos.  It was very
    interesting to see him basically apply banjo technique to a bass.
    
    Oh... and Vic is NO slouch on banjo either.  
    
    Basically these guys are just very musical and it doesn't seem to
    matter what they played.
    
    Futureman also played a VERY original solo where he ran thru the gamut
    of unusual drum samples over a very simple melodic pattern,
    occasionally infusing samples of people from the far east singing and
    talking in their native language. 
    
    Couldn't listen to a whole evening of that, but as one song among many
    it really worked.  Had my attention thru the end.
    
    	db

    In reading interviews with Victor Wooten, it sounds like part of
    his thing is to do 'banjo rolls' on the bass, something he was into
    before hooking up with the Flecktones.
    
    Futureman is tres cool, but he seems to annoy some people.  I've heard
    some negative comments, maybe because he violates expectations about
    what a drummer is/does.  To me he's yet another fascinating facet of
    this band.
    

    
    	Alan Starr used to say that about "flashy" drummers ... it wasn't
    	their job to impress people, because they were just supposed to
    	set down the rhythm so the rest of the band could keep in time.
    
    	I disagreed with him, though.
    

    The only thing negative I'll say about Futureman is that he just
    doesn't quite seem to nail the groove very often.  I don't get a very
    solid sense of time from him.
    
    However, I think he clearly "works" in this band.  

    
    > RE:  Futureman
    
    Does he still have a flair for fashion?!?
    
    Kev --
    

    
    	I saw "The Beverly Hillbillies" movie last night and happened to
    	catch all the credits ... "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" was done
    	by none other than
    
    
    	Joe Satriani!!
    
    	Oops, silly me ... it was Bela Fleck.
    

    
    Here's a trivia question which I half know the answer to.  I
    have been told that Futureman is actually Victor Wooten's brother.
    Can anyone verify that?  I don't know why I care, but it's been bugging
    me for a while :-).
                    
    Thanks,
    Al
    

re: .21
    
>    Here's a trivia question which I half know the answer to.  I
>    have been told that Futureman is actually Victor Wooten's brother.
>    Can anyone verify that?  I don't know why I care, but it's been bugging
>    me for a while :-).
                    
It's true.  His real name is Roy Wooten.    

-Hal

    I liked Bela's introduction for Futureman:
    
    	"We auditioned a lot of synthaxe drumitar players and... well...
    	 he just seemed like the best.."
    
    Like I said, I don't get that solid time-feel that I get from real
    drums but... he MORE than makes up for that in other ways.   He also
    sems to find just the right balance between "playing like a drummer"
    and "not being constrained by the limitations of kit drums".
    
    And his solo showed he just has an incredible musical/artistic sense.
    
    Can you tell, I'm now really big on these guys?  ;-)
    
    	db

    
    Well, if you watched Saturday Night Live last Saturday, you got to see
    Bela.
    
    He wasn't the musical guest (that was the Dave Matthews Band), but in
    between skits, he was up there picking away at his banjo with G.E.
    Smith and the band.  I'm surprised they didn't say anything, even at
    least at the close of the show.
    
    (by the way, Note 256 in this conference already started a Fleck
     discussion)
    
    - Sean

    
       bela also stood in with paul schaffer and co. on the letterman 
     show last week.
    

    Yes, I did see that show and did catch Bela.
    
    GE Smith (bandleader/guitarist for the SNL band) often has famous peole
    sitting in uncredited.   It's one of the few remaining reasons to watch
    the show.  As much as I like Courteney Cox, I didn't find ONE sketch
    that I thought was funny.
    
    I want my LINDA RICHMAN back!!!!!
    
    Now I'm ferkept... Tawk amongst yourselves...
    
    	db - who is going to see "Stuart saves his Family" this week but
    	     will pass on "Bad Boys" and who will be at the first area
    	     showing of the Linda Richman movie

    BTW, I moved 711 (a duplicate Bela Fleck topic that I created... sigh)
    into this pre-existing Bela Fleck note.
    
    	db - who still has mod privs

    
    Well, maybe no Courntey Cox skit was funny, but I liked Norm
    MacDonald's news piece:
    
      "The OJ Simpson jury has divided into separate factions - those who
       think he's guilty and those who are total idiots."
    
    And I really didn't know that was Courtney in Bruce Springsteen's 
    video!  I want to see it again, now.
    
    Keeping with the topic, I now agree with previous notes that "UFO Tofu"
    roolz.  The problem was that I was only listening to it on my car CD.
    It is most undeniably a home stereo CD.  Then again, it always takes me
    about 4 or 5 spins to like any CD.
    
    - Sean

    It's funny cause even though I am like REALLY "not into" Springsteen, I
    remember that video very well because Courtney just looked SOOoooo 
    totally "New Jersey". 
    
    	db, a product of New Jersey (Exit 36) and probably the only person	
    	    ever to grow up in New Jersey and NOT be totally into
            Springsteen.

>    It's funny cause even though I am like REALLY "not into" Springsteen, I
>    remember that video very well because Courtney just looked SOOoooo 
>    totally "New Jersey". 
    
    She looked alot better then.  She's got a bit of that Heidi Fleiss coked
    out look now.

    I wouldn't know... I can never take my eyes of Jennifer Aniston anyway.
    
    	db

    I saw the show on Saturday night as well...
    
    It was cool watching Bela play, but GE Smith bugs me. I was hoping he would
    get out of the way so I could see Bela.  It seems that no matter who is 
    playing, GE is always standing in front of the musical guest. 

    
    	RE: Danielle
    
    	Not sure why, but I never liked GE Smith.  He looks like he
    	thinks he's the greatest guitarist ever [and it's obvious he's
    	not, since Blues Saraceno holds that honor], even though he's
    	one of the worst [but not THE worst, since Clapton wins that
    	one [slow]hands down].
    
    	RE: db
    
    	Jennifer is getting better looking all the time, I think.  I
    	used to adore Courtney on "Family Ties", but now she's just "OK"
    	in comparison.
    
    	Helen Hunt has them both beat.
    

>    	Not sure why, but I never liked GE Smith.  He looks like he
>    	thinks he's the greatest guitarist ever [and it's obvious he's

    The way GE mugs for the camera has always reminded me of
    Screaming Lord Sutch (sp?).  Ever see the back cover of his
    first (only?) album?

    It always cracks me up to hear people rag on GE Smith; you folks aren't
    alone, I've seen it elsewhere too.  Fact is, GE's a talented and
    accomplished musician, highly respected in his art by his peers. 
    At least you know he's not famous because of his looks :-)
    
    If I had GE's gig, not to mention his guitar collection, I'd be mugging
    for the camera every Saturday night too!
    
    /not_ready_for_prime_time_rick
    

    
    I just remembered:  if you ever catch the "Great Chefs of
    Chicago" (or San Fran., or Louisiana) on the Discovery Channel, 
    you'll notice the theme music is taken of UFO Tofu.
    
    Kev --
    

>    It was cool watching Bela play, but GE Smith bugs me. I was hoping he would
>    get out of the way so I could see Bela.  
    
    I take it you don't watch Saturday Night Live all that often?

    
    What is Bela's "solo" stuff like?  I'm thinking of the pre-Flecktones
    Rounder Records period CD's, usually found in the "Folk" section (unlike
    The Flecktones material that is usually placed in the "Jazz" section).
    
    Not to be sacreligious or anything, but I'd be interested in hearing
    an earthier set of tunes from him, so if anybody ever listened to
    that stuff, how about a review?
    
    - Sean

      
Before forming the Flecktones, Bela was part of a group called "New Grass 
Revival" that did VERY contemporary sounding bluegrass and had 3 other
outstanding musicians (John Cowan on bass/vocals, Sam Bush on fiddle/mandolin, 
and Pat Flynn on guitar).  Excellent stuff.  Check out any album, they're 
all pretty good.  Traditionally based but very updated.  You have to hear 
it to understand.

Walker

    For Flecktones fan who want to hear Bela pre-Flecktones, I highly 
    recommend Bela's instrumental album "Drive", which features some of 
    the NewGrass Revival guys as well as Mark O'Connor.  It's contemporary 
    bluegrass with a lot of, uh, drive.  I have some of his others - that
    one's the best.
    
    Tom

    
    D'oh!!!
    
    I almost bought that one the other day.....
    

    Every time I see GE Smith mugging in front of the camera I can't help
    but bust out laughing as the first image that comes to mind is Shemp.
    
    BTW, he used to be married to Gilda Radner (before Gene Wilder) and has
    played as a session musician with many contempories (including Dylan).
    
    Mark.

    
    >BTW, he used to be married to Gilda Radner (before Gene Wilder) and has
    
    
    	GE Smith was married to Gene Wilder?
    

    he also toured with Hall & Oates in the early 80's
    

    I'll go down the GE Smith rathole too... I had the pleasure of seeing
    Hall & Oates at the Centrum Oct-31-84, 5th row, with Bob Rivers of WAAF
    Bob & Zip fame...I met Bob earlier in the evening at Union Music, and
    he was trying to get rid of tix to the show, he asked me if I wanted to
    see H&O with him, 5th row...Fersher, whynot ??!!!  so, off to the show,
    and we're in the 5th row, right in front of GE Smith, who was playing
    with H&O at the time, as well as the SNL bass player (name?) so those
    guys have been together for some time...
    
    anyway, I thought GE was quite the tasty player that night with H&O,
    and I still think he's a great player, he's got a great collection, as
    well...as fas as his muggin for the camera, so would I if I had that
    gig, it's his band, so give'em a break...
    
    the only time he's buggedme was the Dylan 30th year tribute concert,
    here he is with some Legends up there, and although he's a good player,
    I don't think he belonged up there at times...
    
    c'mon, he doesn't pose half as much as some players who half his talent
    
    Wes

    RE: SNL's bass player
    
    T-bone Wolk

    I saw GE when he was touring with Dylan at Great Woods about 5 yrs ago. 
    I cann't decide if it was Dylan or the band but it was the best Dylan
    show by far that I've seen.  As we all know by now either he's on or
    your in for a long evening!!!
    
    				Bart

    In case anybody who's interested doesn't already know, I stumbled onto the
    project Howard Levy seems to have disappeared into.  It's a group
    called Trio Globo; the other two members are cellist Eugene Friesen and
    percussionist Glen Velez.
    
    As the name and personnel suggest, this is sort of a "World Music" group.
    There's a lot more jazz content at times than I would have expected, mostly
    because of Howard's piano voicings.
    
    Paul

    Victor Wooten just released his first solo album "A Show of Hands".
    
    Folks, this album is amazing.   I never ever imagined that I could
    ever listen to an album composed entirely of bass guitar solos
    over-and-over again, but this album has caught me by the ear
    and won't let go.
    
    Anyone with a remote interest in the possibilities of the bass guitar
    NEEDS to check out this album.   The guy is just totally amazing on
    the bass, and yet the real story here is the artistry and musicality of
    the album, not the amazing bass techniques.   This guy is the total
    musical package.
    
    Of course the bass technique is mind-blowing.   Something I wouldn't
    have thought possible.  And its not just speed, it's also "control".
    The guy squeezes amazing expression out of the bass, almost like
    a Jeff Beck on guitar.
    
    And its pretty much ALL bass playing - no drums, no keys, no guitar,
    no banjos, just an occasional scat vocal.
    
    This album gets *****
    
    	db
    
    p.s. Remember this - you can't hold no groove, if you ain't got no
         pocket

    Anyone else going to the Concord NH gig on 3/29?
    
    I am (like) SOOO psyched.
    
    I just bought out the last Flecktone album I didn't have (Three
    Flew...) and bought the "Hippo" video.
    
    BTW, am I correct in observing that only rarely do these guys do
    songs off their albums?   It may have been that the first two times
    I saw them I wasn't very familiar with the material but it always
    seemed like everyone tune was something that wasn't on any of the
    albums.
    
    I would kill to see them do either "Turtle Rock" (from "Hippo") or
    "Magic Fingers" (from "UFO Tofu").
    
    	db

i've only seenthem a couple of times but i have
listened to lot's of boots from bela shows...

the fun thing about them is (set voice=gump)
"you never know what you're going to get"... :^)

the two times i've seen them they have played tunes
from thier albums/disks/whatever...  they have a tendency
to do a lot of "this is off our NEXT album"... 

gee, i hate when THAT happens... :^)

last year up at the casino in hampton beach...
special guest, Sam Bush on mandolin...  ZOWIE!!!!!!

and lot's of stuff featuring Victor...  

should be a real treat...

				da ve