Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (album)
Encyclopedia
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is the first album by the band of the same name
, released in 1990. It reached number 17 on the Billboard
Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. At the Grammy Awards of 1997
, a live version of "The Sinister Minister", a track from the album, won the Best Pop Instrumental Performance
award.
unless otherwise noted.
Some websites claim additional musicians participated on this album, but these are not supported by the liner notes. However, in the notes from the band's next album, Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, apologies and credit for vocal work is given to Camille Harrison for the track "Sunset Road".
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a primarily instrumental group from the United States, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion and jazz, sometimes dubbed "blu-bop". The band formed in 1988, initially to perform once on the PBS series Lonesome Pine Specials. The Flecktones have toured extensively...
, released in 1990. It reached number 17 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. At the Grammy Awards of 1997
Grammy Awards of 1997
The 39th Grammy Awards were held on February 26, 1997. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.- Award winners :*Record of the Year**Babyface & Eric Clapton for "Change the World"*Album of the Year...
, a live version of "The Sinister Minister", a track from the album, won the Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance was awarded between 1969 and 2011.*In 1969 it was awarded as Best Contemporary-Pop Performance, Instrumental*From 1970 to 1971 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance...
award.
Reception
In his Allmusic review, music critic Brian Mansfield praised the album and wrote "For all the flash, there's little pretense; the group's astonishing musicianship keeps an "aw-shucks" accessibility that lets everybody follow the melody while they marvel."Track listing
All songs by Béla FleckBéla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
unless otherwise noted.
- "Sea Brazil" – 3:43
- "Frontiers" – 6:08
- "Hurricane Camille" – 2:38
- "Half Moon Bay" – 5:09
- "The Sinister Minister" – 4:38
- "Sunset Road" – 5:04
- "Flipper" – 4:21
- "Mars Needs Women: Space is a Lonely Place" – 5:01
- "Mars Needs Women: They're Here" – 3:30
- "Reflections of Lucy" (Fleck/John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
/Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) – 3:38 - "Tell It to the Gov'nor" – 4:06
Personnel
- Béla FleckBéla FleckBéla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
– banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new... - Howard LevyHoward LevyHoward Levy is a Grammy Award–winning, American harmonicist, pianist, composer, and producer....
– harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Jew's harpJew's harpThe Jew's harp, jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp, trump or juice harp, is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world; a musician apparently playing it can be seen in a Chinese drawing from the 4th century BC...
, güiroGüiroThe güiro is a Latin-American percussion instrument consisting of an open-ended, hollow gourd with parallel notches cut in one side. It is played by rubbing a stick or tines along the notches to produce a ratchet-like sound. The güiro is commonly used in Latin-American music, and plays a key role... - Roy "Future Man" WootenFuture ManRoy Wilfred Wooten , also known as "RoyEl", best known by his stage name Future Man , is an inventor, musician, and composer...
– Synth-axe/Drumitar - Victor WootenVictor WootenVictor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Some websites claim additional musicians participated on this album, but these are not supported by the liner notes. However, in the notes from the band's next album, Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, apologies and credit for vocal work is given to Camille Harrison for the track "Sunset Road".
Production notes
- Produced by Béla FleckBéla FleckBéla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
with the Flecktones - Carlos Grier – editing
- Bil VornDick – mixing
- Denny Purcell – mastering
- Mark Fox – artwork, design
- Laura LiPuma – art direction
- Jim McGuire – photography
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums | 17 |