The New York banjo player Béla Fleck has won 18 Grammy Awards in nine fields from bluegrass to classical.
‘You play the banjo, I just assumed you came from Carolina or somewhere,’ says David Krauss in the latest episode of Speaking Soundly.
Actually, he got named after Bartok.
Listen here.
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But that is all talking! Here is some music to go with it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwuIj33gtfo
Giving him a classical Grammy shows how corrupt Grammys are, and how much they have to do with simply sales. For a folk musician, he’s very adept, not more than Johnny Hartman and not as musical; as a classical musician, he’s on the level of a college student at best. His Bach has no expression or sophistication, he is just able to play all the notes accurately and plainly. How this kind of cheap stunt discourages serious artistry is criminal.
Hate to break it to you, but Grammy awards as a whole having nothing to do with talent lol
A propos of nothing, this reminds me of how cool it was that Ashkenazy’s Shostakovich Preludes/Fugues recording won a Grammy. Just gave that to someone as a gift, it’s scarce these days.
Dear Norman,
just two cents: Béla Fleck’s parents named him not only Bela after Bartok but also Anton (v.Webern) and Leoš (Janacek). What might be a burden for others, for him imho it was sheer inspiration.
Being a German classix guy, I have always loved the sound of the banjo, dunno why. This guy Bela Fleck is a miracle, mastering each and every style and work.
Not convinced? Hear his Xmas album … is heartwarming, masterful and pure joy.