Bela Fleck – The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2

Bela Fleck says everything he plays is “colored by the bluegrass heartland,” which would seem a self-evident statement for a banjo player. But since the early 1990s, Fleck and his band, the Flecktones, have repeatedly taken the banjo to uncharted realms, from Chick Corea-inspired chord-change exercises to performing with the Boston Symphony.

On his new release, Fleck steps away from his talented electric sidemen to assemble his bluegrass “dream band.” Among the participants are veterans Vassar Clements, Tony Rice, and Sam Bush and Earl Scruggs. In spite of its daunting bluegrass pedigree, the ensemble does not strive to document the form as scholarly traditionalists. With a set list including “Polka On The Banjo” (sung by John Hartford) and “Major Honker”, it’s clear that Fleck is still interested in musical cross-pollination and, equally important, that his sense of humor remains intact.