Béla Fleck And The Flecktones Bring Instrumental Mastery To The Sunset Music Series

A performer in a pirate hat named Future Man is playing an instrument you cannot identify that seems to be making a percussion sound. The lead man electrifies the stage, but not with vocals. He strums an electric banjo with energy and style, seeming to find new and previously unheard chords. Left of stage, a pianist leaves his seat to blow on a harmonica. But wait...doesn't that sound like a piccolo? What is that box Future Man is sitting on and how does it make that sound?

Welcome to Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, an inspired instrumental combination of classical, jazz, bluegrass, funk and more that defies definition.

The group's one night only performance at the Newport Yachting Center Saturday brought together the original line up of pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy, renowned banjoist Béla Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/Drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten. 

Originally formed in 1988, the group created three breakthrough albums, playing up to 150 shows a year before Levy left in 1992. Saxophonist Jeff Coffinthe eventually joined the remaining trio, seeing the band through nine albums and five Grammy awards before he was invited to join Dave Matthews Band in 2008.

Every member, including the newly returned Levy has continued to grow their repertoire with unique side projects, making the band's new album, Rocket Science, a merge of all manners of genres.

With decades of experience behind them, these musicians are clearly in their own league and their live performance is a mind blowing display of talent and sound. Victor Wooten has won virtually every award given to bass guitarists (and some more than once) and it's easy to see why as he dominates the instrument flipping and throwing it during bass solos.

Considered by some to be the world's best banjo player, Fleck effortlessly changes between genres, pushing the limits on his electric and acoustic banjos.

Levy makes the harmonica sing in ways most have never heard, sometimes playing more than one instrument at a time.

Future Man combines percussion sounds from three different sources; his "Drumitar" (an instrument he created,) a classic drum set and a box on which he occasionally sits.

The audience is left with the impression that these four could make beautiful music with nothing but a frying pan and a piece of dental floss. And if that wasn't enough, the show is full of guest performances, including impressive solos on a stand up bass and a fiddle.

Fleck's wife, Abigail Washburn, who is also an acclaimed banjoist, opened for the band and helped to provide one of the show's best moments. Nine musicians came on stage as Washburn performed vocals on the classic blues number Nobody's Fault But Mine.

Though you may have missed Saturday's unforgettable performance, there is still time to catch plenty of talent at the Newport Yachting Center, a waterfront concert venue with the Newport harbor as the backdrop. It's worth the trip for Woonsocket residents to catch Woonsocket Patch contributor GW Mercure on the courtyard stage before moe. this Thursday.

For the complete line up of the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series, visit newportwaterfrontevents.com.