I’ve seen Bela Fleck (with the Fleck-Tones) three times, so I had to watch this interview.
Iit’s interesting to listen to him talk about the limitations and the strengths of his instrument, just as we do with the Stick. I’m working my way slowly through an arrangement of Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1, so I’m becoming very familiar with the challenge of arranging orchestral or piano music for the Stick.
One of my very favorite pieces of all time (introduced to it, as was Bela, at a very young age) is Rhapsody in Blue. At about 29:00 in this he rips through part of his arrangement of this iconic jazz composition. If it can be done with only five strings and three fingers, I’ll bet it can be done on 10 (or 12) and eight fingers!!
And for the Bach lovers amongst us (@earthgene) his discussion of Bach at about 36:00 is fun too!