Bela Fleck | Deering Live Ep. 104

We are beyond excited to feature Bela Fleck on our next episode of Deering Live. Bela has taken the 5-string banjo to more musical landscapes than anyone else and always at the highest of levels. He has been nominated in more musical categories than anyone in Grammy history.
His latest project, released this past February, expands and explores George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue by paying homage to the legendary composer while redefining an American classic-just in time for its centennial.
Join us as we discuss Bela's artistic process, compositional approaches, his new recording Rhapsody In Blue, and more. This is bound to be an extremely insightful and fun episode!

[@josephanderson7237]

I may own the banjo 🪕 Bela talks about with the neck made by Monteleone(sp?) It’s a 1937 top tension 12. It came from New York to Nashville recently and that’s where I bought it.

[@jonpoi1003]

Thank you for the video. I missed the LIVE.

[@johnhaywood8725]

Beautiful, a true master off the banjo, a great interview.

[@DeeringBanjoCo]

Thanks for listening

[@JamAlong]

Great stuff, take heed one and all!

[@kevdavies3445]

genius and such a nice guy

[@user-gk4nf4mo7l]

Watching the Replay. We enjoy Deering Banjo .

[@frcassel]

Great session!

[@DeeringBanjoCo]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@ezekielsmukler2903]

I heard Pete Seeger and Erik Darling do camp songs.

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Thank you all for sharing this. Wonderful interview and discussion. But it makes me wonder: Who is the Bela Fleck of the tenor? I’m primarily a guitarist (40 years now) but took up the tenor banjo seven years ago, and I love it. The thing is, most of the time I hear it, it’s New Orleans jazz (wonderful music) or Irish music (also wonderful). I don’t know of anyone using the tenor (for that matter, the plectrum) for anything similar to the Flecktones, for example, or an Eric Dolphy or John Coltrane song, or Prog rock. I know that there are a number of excellent four string banjoists out there who are willing to push things beyond the traditional sounds (Cynthia Sayer and Don Vappie for two, and David Bandrowski himself for a third) while honoring that tradition. But most of time I have heard a four string, it’s been resolutely prewar or revivalist/Shakey’s Pizza sing along stuff. Again, all of that is appealing in its own right; but it shouldn’t be the outer limits of what’s possible on the instrument. I will keep picking away with my own (weird) playing. I’m going to an open mic tomorrow afternoon and I will take my tenor (Deering Goodtime 2).

[@sixwatergrog]

On the Irish side check out Darren Maloney as an example of the Bela Fleck of the tenor. He passed away at a young age a few years back, but he was starting to take the tenor banjo into some progressive directions. Darren Maloney played a Deering banjo!

[@DeeringBanjoCo]

He did indeed. A phenomenal player!

[@TEXWolverine]

Not quite the same but check out Don Vappie who is an incredible 4 string player. His Deering Live would be a great place to start to learn more about him and his music.

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

@@TEXWolverine Don Vappie is amazing! I remember watching his Deering Live episode. One of my favorites from him is on his “Banjo A La Creole” album, the track “Grassy Blue “.