Full Show Audio: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones In New Jersey

Last weekend Béla Fleck and the Flecktones completed just their second tour since a lengthy hiatus that began in 2012 and spanned until a three-week tour in June 2016. This year’s tour was also a three-week affair and included a number of co-headlining dates with the Chick Corea Elektric Band. For today’s installment of Full Show Friday, let’s enjoy the best sounding recording to surface from the tour.

Banjo wiz Bela Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, drumitarist Futureman and multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy brought the tour to the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey on August 8. The original Flecktones lineup began the set with the gorgeous “Big Country” and then performed “Flying Saucer Dudes” off 1991’s Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo.

Fleck and his mates continued on with “Sex In A Pan” from 1992’s UFO Tofu and another Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo track, “Blu-Bop.” Levy is an exceptional harmonica and piano player. Howard showed off his impressive skills during a solo that led into “Life In Eleven,” one of two tunes performed in Jersey from the original lineup’s 2011 reunion album – Rocket Science. “True North” was a showcase for Bela ahead of a wild solo from Futureman. Bela Fleck & The Flecktones ended the set at the Count Basie Theater with Rocket Science’s “Sweet Pomegranates” and “Sinister Minister” off the foursome’s self-titled 1990 debut studio album.

Listen to audio of the Flecktones’ set in Red Bank taped by Tim In Jersey:

Setlist

Set: Big Country, Flying Saucer Dudes, Sex In A Pan, Blu-Bop, Howard Levy Solo > Life In Eleven, True North, Futureman Solo, Sweet Pomegranates, Sinister Minister