Innovation Meets Tradition: Béla Fleck Shares ‘Rhapsody In Blue(grass)’

Forward-thinking banjoist Béla Fleck is taking a rare opportunity to look back and honor another pioneering musician — George Gershwin. Today, Fleck unveiled “Rhapsody In Blue(grass)” from his forthcoming Gershwin tribute album Rhapsody In Blue.

Rhapsody In Blue, which is set for release on February 12 through Béla Fleck Productions/Thirty Tigers, consists of five tracks. Fleck offers three distinct takes on the title track along with a solo banjo version of Gershwin’s “Rialto Ripples” and the previously unrecorded and unreleased “Unidentified Piece For Banjo.”

Béla Fleck three versions of the title track are a classic orchestration with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, “Rhapsody In Blue(s)” featuring Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Victor Wooten and “Rhapsody In Blue(grass).” The latter finds Fleck accompanied by his My Bluegrass Heart ensemble — Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton.

“One day while on tour with My Bluegrass Heart, surrounded by these geniuses, a thought occurred to me – ‘Rhapsody in Blue(grass)?!’ I kept the thought to myself, realizing it was either the greatest idea or possibly the very worst I had ever thought of,” Fleck revealed. “But it wouldn’t go away. When we started to actually explore it, I realized that it actually sounded quite good. With the bluegrass version, we had the opportunity to stretch out, have some fun and make some different creative moves.”

Rhapsody In Blue arrives on the 100th anniversary of the day Gershwin premiered “Rhapsody In Blue.” Béla Fleck will offer the New York premiere of his “Rhapsody In Blue” performed with the Aeolian Orchestra, conducted by Eric Jacobsen, as part of the Béla Fleck: Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody concert at NYC’s Carnegie Hall on May 4. “Rhapsody In Blue(grass)” also comes in celebration of the late great Earl Scruggs’ 100th birthday.

Stream Béla Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart’s “Rhapsody In Blue(grass)” below: