How to go
What: Bela Fleck: The Africa Project
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22
Where: Parrish Auditorium, Miami University Hamilton, 1601 University Blvd.
Cost: Sold out
HAMILTON — The most frequent entertainer of Miami University-Hamilton’s Artist Series, Bela Fleck, returns to campus Monday, Feb. 22, for a sold-out show — and this time he’s bringing the sounds of Africa with him.
This will be Fleck’s 11th performance at the series, for which he has often appeared with groups such as the Flecktones and the New Grass Revival, said Howard Epstein, the director of the series. This time out, the multiple Grammy winner is spotlighting his two “Throw Down Your Heart” albums, which feature musicians from around Africa.
“You are going to hear some incredibly talented musicians from Africa, and they will play solo and I will play with them. Also, we have a great American fiddler, Casey Driessen. So we will be mixing the African/bluegrass gumbo,” Fleck said. “This is a lot of traditional African material and some original music written by me and Anania Ngoliga.”
Fleck had long wanted to go to Africa, finally making the trek in 2005, traveling around the continent to find the roots of banjo music.
Paul Simon was lauded for taking a similar journey with his 1986 album “Graceland,” which featured the tunes “You Can Call Me Al” and “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes.” Fleck’s project, however, had a different scope.
“For one thing Paul is a vocalist, and I am a banjo player. For the other thing, Paul was doing his own music with African musicians, while I am playing traditional African music, and trying to fit into their scene,” Fleck said.
The result was, among other things, music with an infectious energy.
“I think the shows are pretty inspiring in a number of ways. There is an incredible vibe and dynamic going on, and we are all having such a great time. That can really spread into the crowd, and I hope they can take some of that good energy with them. Also the music is pretty much spectacular,” Fleck said.
Learn more about “Throw Down Your Heart” and “Throw Down Your Heart — Africa Sessions Part 2” at www.belafleck.com.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.
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