Bela Fleck Stories

Studio Verse | Folk, Country & Bluegrass

Studio Verse is a Tomorrows Verse feature that collects the best television and radio station recording sessions from our favorite musicians. In todays edition, we explore a collection of folk and bluegrass sessions that have surfaced recently. By: Alex WoodBrandi Carlile KEXPFolk and Americana songwriter Brandi Carlile brought her full touring band to KEXP for...

Friday Album Reviews | Seven New Records You Need To Know

As every Friday brings new music, Tomorrow's Verse brings you our top picks. Here's are favorite albums from October 20.By: Alex WoodDestroyer kenCanadian songwriter Dan Bejar returns with another Destroyer album. As always, the record isnt quite the same as anything else hes created. His newest work, ken shares his similar influences, found in Bowie,...

Watch Punch Brothers' Noam Pikelny Demonstrate Three Banjo Styles

Banjo mastermind and Punch Brothers member Noam Pikelny recently sat down with Reverb for a fascinating discussion of the instruments history.Pikelny breaks banjo performance into three distinct styles, moving through the history of bluegrass and the instruments influence as he goes.Beginning the discussion with Earl Scruggs, he describes Scruggs rolling, three-finger style before...

Video | Medeski, Oteil, KarlD & Kraz Anchor Throwback Jam @ Bonnaroo

We've come a long way since the 2002 Bonnaroo Superjam, which was essentially an expanded String Cheese Incident & Friends set.In 2015, Hollywood actors open the festivities with an a capalla "We Are The World", and stars from all over the popular music spectrum drop in for a cameo. But one thing stays the same, the...

Video: Bluegrass Sessions @ Skyline Stage 9/15/1999

How do you top one of the greatest acoustic albums of all time (Bela Fleck's Tales From The Acoustic Planet)? Bela kept the all-star lineup, but went straight bluegrass for the follow up to his 1995 acoustic jazz masterpiece.First, Fleck grabbed Sam Bush, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Vassar Clements and more to round...

Album Reviews | October 2014 Releases

For October, we've got 14 capsule reviews from Alex and four "Editor's Choice" summaries from me below. A key track from each release is included in the embedded Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page.Flying Lotus- Youre Dead! [10/7]Flying Lotuss music has never been simple, and Youre Dead! is no exception. Busting through 19 songs...

Review / Setlist / Video: Bela Fleck & Chick Corea @ Auditorium Theater 4/5/15

Words / Photos: @WeirScrewedEven in the robust musical market of Chicago, it is a rare treat when two virtuosos the caliber of Chick Corea and Bela Fleck come together. Both players have such deep catalogs and their respective careers transcend genre. The duo visited the magnificent Auditorium Theatre on Saturday night to play for a few...

Album Review: Jimmy Herring - Subject To Change Without Notice

Jimmy Herring humbly offers his considerable musical gifts to those who enjoy a rigorous musical workout. For a music writer, havingSubject To Change Without Noticeas the title of the guitarist's lastest release is like wrapping that gift with flowing ribbon and shiny bows. The album's name easily suggests not only the confident stylistic swingsthat gives...

A 7-Hour Jam, Deer Tick Contest, Ugly Music, Cornmeal & Bela #5greatlinks

Im trying a bunch of new things on the blog lately. So in that spirit, Im moving away from the traditional weekly link roundup and towards a more anyday / anytime format. So goodbye Friday Linkafication, and hello to 5 Great Links a combination of web destinations and videos that I think are worthy of a click....