Howard Levy Unable To Perform On Upcoming Bela Fleck & The Flecktones Holiday Tour

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones are on the cusp of embarking on their Jingle All The Way Tour. Former Flecktone, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, will be part of the special run of shows, but original member, multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy, will no longer be participating.

Levy is dealing with a “sudden medical issue” and was advised not to tour by his care team. The statement from Levy did not reveal specifics regarding his health, but he indicated hope for a full recovery and return to performing soon.

Fellow original members of the group, banjoist Béla Fleck, percussionist/drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten and bassist Victor Wooten will be joined by Coffin, as well as Tuvan throat singing ensemble Alash on the tour celebrating their 2008 holiday album, Jingle All The Way. The Grammy-winning record was recently reissued.

Coffin was a member of The Flecktones from 1997 through 2010, when he left to join Dave Matthews Band. The Jingle All The Way Tour marks the first time the original Flecktones, Coffin and Alash will appear together on stage.

The Jingle All The Way Tour starts tomorrow (Wednesday, November 26) with the first of two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Setlists are expected to pull “from across [The Flecktones] catalog, including reinvented holiday classics from Jingle All the Way, performed for the first time in 15 years.”

Mandolinist Sierra Hull will appear as a special guest at select dates of the Jingle All The Way Tour.