Béla Fleck, the acclaimed banjo virtuoso and 18-time Grammy Award winner, is set to perform a unique banjo-centric rendition of George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on June 11. This performance is part of the Neranenah series, which honors Jewish musicians, including Gershwin himself. The concert will be conducted by Grammy Award-winning jazz conductor Jeff Tyzik, further adding to the event’s prestige.
Fleck describes his adaptation of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ as a daunting challenge, likening it to conquering a musical Everest. “On a piano, you have 10 fingers and 81 keys. On a banjo, I can only strike three notes at a time,” he explains. Initially, he created a version that seemed nearly impossible to play and was not considering performing it anytime soon.
The opportunity arose unexpectedly when Fleck received a call from the Nashville Symphony, where he had previously debuted other concertos. During a casual discussion about a gala event, he mentioned his experimental version of ‘Rhapsody.’ To his surprise, the Symphony expressed interest and scheduled his performance for the gala, prompting Fleck to prepare for a major stage.
Faced with the upcoming performance, Fleck realized he needed to simplify his approach and devise strategies to convey the parts he couldn’t physically play. “I had to make it a battle I could win,” he remarked. As a result, Fleck created a version that not only showcases technical brilliance but also captures the essence of Gershwin’s original composition, infused with his personal style.
The Nashville concert where Fleck debuted this piece also celebrated the centennial of the original world premiere of ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ Coincidentally, it marked 100 years since the birth of legendary bluegrass banjo player Earl Scruggs, who significantly influenced Fleck’s music journey. As a child, Fleck was captivated by Scruggs’ playing on the television show ‘The Beverly Hillbillies,’ transforming his perception of folk music.
Fleck recalled, “I was shook up by it. I didn’t know what it was. You don’t see it. You just hear the music.” This transformative moment as a child ignited a deep passion for the banjo, a phenomenon Fleck observes occurs often among aspiring banjo players.
To commemorate Scruggs’ legacy, Fleck crafted a more improvisational interpretation called ‘Rhapsody in Bluegrass,’ which he recorded for an album. However, during his performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, he plans to maintain the traditional orchestration. “It’s a joy when the orchestra has it down cold,” he said, expressing enthusiasm about collaborating with the orchestra.
Fleck described the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as one of the finest ensembles in the South, saying, “Atlanta Symphony is an excellent Southern symphony — one of the really good ones that I’ve been excited to play with for a long time.” Although he has performed at Atlanta Symphony Hall with other notable artists like Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty, this will mark his first performance with ASO.
In addition to ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ the concert will feature Fleck’s second concerto, ‘Juno,’ named after his firstborn son. He revealed that ‘Juno’ is his favorite among the three concertos he has composed, often working on it with his son nearby, sleeping in a crib. Interestingly, Juno is also the name of a spacecraft that carried Fleck’s music into space, showcasing a unique connection between his work and exploration.
Fleck has been a part of the genre-defying group the Flecktones since the late 1980s, blending jazz, bluegrass, funk, and classical music. After 37 years with the Flecktones, he remains selective about the projects he undertakes, pursuing only those that ignite his passion. “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, and now I’m kind of only doing things that I can’t not do like ‘Rhapsody,'” he stated, emphasizing his intent to check items off his musical bucket list.
For those interested in experiencing Fleck’s innovative musical reinterpretation and contributions, attending his performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will be an opportunity not to be missed. And for those who are unable to catch this concert, Fleck will return to Atlanta with the Flecktones in December for a Christmas show.
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