'Banjo Royalty' Performs At Princeton University Next Month

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton University will host a 16-time Grammy Award winner next month. Highly decorated Béla Fleck and singer, fellow banjoist and wife, Abigail Washburn present vernacular music of Appalachia on Thursday, April 13, at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, 7:30 p.m.

The duo will bring highlights from the their recent album, which won Best Folk Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards. This special event hosted by Princeton University Concerts (“PUC”) spans the genres of bluegrass, jazz, African and Asian styles.

Tickets are $40 ($15 for students), and are available at princetonuniversityconcerts.org, and by calling 609-258-9220.

“The Guardian” calls Washburn and Fleck “banjo royalty.”

“He redefined bluegrass with the Flecktones, she fused the sounds of Appalachia with Chinese folk,” the London-based news agency says. “In the duo’s hands, their combined total of 10 strings can span the range of a piano, a blues band or an entire symphony orchestra.”

Fleck has recently devoted time away from his genre-busting ensemble Béla Fleck and the Flecktones to a staggeringly broad array of musical experiments, from writing a concerto for the Nashville Symphony to exploring the banjo’s African roots to jazz duos with Chick Corea.

Washburn has drawn critical acclaim for her solo albums, done fascinating work in folk musical diplomacy in China, presented an original theatrical production, contributed to singular side groups Uncle Earl and The Wu-Force and become quite a live draw in her own right.

“Committed to presenting the highest caliber chamber music, PUC is excited to offer a program that highlights the diversity of the genre,” PUC said on Monday. “As PUC’s upcoming concerts span everything from Anglo-Saxon harp (Benjamin Bagby’s Beowulf) to Finnish violin music (Pekka Kuusisto and Nico Muhly’s Breaking Ground program) to one of the pillars of classical music (pianist Murray Perahia), the spring season celebrates a pronounced range of styles.”

The attached image of Abigail Washburn, banjo/voice and Béla Fleck, banjo, was provided by Princeton University. Photo credit: Jim McGuire