The Yardley Hall-Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College enjoyed a rare treat Saturday night when Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer made their last stop of their tour together in Kansas City. The banjo virtuoso, tabla master and boss of bass exhibited the wide range of sounds, styles and harmony of their respective instruments for two full sets of breathe-taking classical music.
Bela, Zakir and Edgar have a history together. The album they put together "The Melody of Rhythm" exemplifies the power that rhythm itself has as a driving force for music. In their performance last night, the musicians demonstrated that same sentiment, playing songs utilizing changing, flowing rhythms that held the audience's ears far more than any particular melody or series of notes could.
Bela Fleck has been called the greatest banjo player alive and he lives up to his title. Since he was 15, Bela has been finding the many styles and ways of playing the banjo, breaking through every stereotype and expectation people might have about banjos. He has traveled all around the world, giving musicians of other cultures the best example of American banjo music there is. Last night he played wickedly fast, intricately complex classical pieces on his banjo. His face-melting solo of classically styled music was almost too much for ears to comprehend.
Zakir Hussain is a national treasure in his home country of India, and has been recognized the world over as a master of classic tabla and supreme percussionist. The man's sheer energy and ability to create all sorts of sounds with his tabla is a sight to see. Using tabla set to different notes and a completely flat drum that he could manipulate to make any sound he wanted, Zakir created a symphony of percussion all on his own, speaking and playing the "language" of tabla.
Edgar Meyer has been called the best bassist alive and with good reason. As a double-bassist, he plays his stand-up bass with both a bow and his fingers. Leaning down to reach the highest notes the bass can play and smoothly pulling a bow across the instrument in flowing chords, Edgar can make a bass sound like a violin, cello or any other classic stringed instrument. Plucking notes out in two's and three's, he changes tempo at the drop of a hat and can lead the trio in songs of his own, or back them up with his complimenting low notes.
Together these three musicians are a mind-blowing symphony of classical music. Their extensive practice with their respective instruments meant power-house solos and climactic collaborations throughout each set. The trio's experiences together have made them a perfect team that works well even with songs that explore off-key notes and off-beat rhythms. To add even more entertainment to the show, the three guys teased and joked with one another and the audience throughout both sets.
To begin their encore, Bela sat down and picked at the top strings of his banjo while Edgar played a bass line on the lower strings of the same banjo, while Zakir simultaneously tapped a driving beat on the banjo's head. The combination of perfectly played sounds coming from three men playing on a single banjo was beyond belief! The audience gave a second standing ovation after the encore, entirely satisfied with the evening's performance.
Bela Fleck will be back in Kansas City this July with the Flecktones! Any fans of the banjo and exciting jazz, progressive rock fusion need to get tickets in advance!
Now for Previews:
On Wednesday, April 20th, Talib Kweli will play hip-hop for party people at the Granada along with Fred the Godson and Louiz Rip. This show will cost $20 and doors open at 8 p.m.
Also on Wednesday, Kansas City's funky, psychedelic afro beat duo I Love You will be having an LP release party at the Replay Lounge.
Friday, the 22nd, $ellout will play the Granada for just $7.
Also on Friday, Soul Rebel and the Beast, winners of the Wakarusa Winter Classic, will play the Jazzhaus for $5. For reggae fans this is a must-see show!
Saturday, April 23rd, two exciting concerts will have music lovers up in arms:
The Black Angels, a psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas will be gracing the Bottleneck with their presence. This surreal band of many sounds and styles could be described as: If The Doors, Joy Division, and The Psychedelic Furs all had a baby together. From grumbling blues rock to mind-expanding psychedelia, The Black Angels will impress fans and new listeners alike. If you have never heard them, this reviewer highly recommends taking the time to listen to a few tracks off their myspace. "Doves," "Young Men Dead," and "Science Killer," are just a few examples of their fantastic tunes. This show will cost between $13.50-15. Doors open at 8 p.m.
At the same time Pretty Lights will be playing at the Midland in Kansas City for $25 with Spankalicious. Any fans of electronic dance music will have to check out this set of slick samples, electronica and drums. Pretty Lights has played epic sets at some of the best music festivals in the region, and this show is guaranteed to bring out all of the most beautiful party people in the Kansas City area, not to mention an army migrating from Lawrence for this concert. The Floozies will play an after party for this show at the Crosstown Station!
There are more exciting concerts coming up than the average music lover can afford. So choose your shows wisely, have fun and be safe! Hope to see you out there!
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