UkeKiddinMe
Well-known member
Is there any jazz/fusion/modern outside the box Ukulele version of instrumental music like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones?
Azo Bell not legit enough?I will be very interested to see if any legit names come up in this thread.
Azo Bell not legit enough?
The thing about the Flecktones is that although Bela is the front man, every member of that group is a virtuoso in his own right. There are currently no ukulele-fronted groups that even remotely approach that. There are clearly individual uke players that have achieved that level of virtuosity - but they have yet to be integrated into a group whose other players reach that calibre.
As I have similarly stated elsewhere on the forum... until the ukulele is commonly seen as a "just another musical tool" and not some magical pod of aloha spirit and pixie dust, then it will remain on the fringe and continue to wax and wane in popularity over the decades.
Bela deserves credit for staying true to his vision as a musician, and over time being accepted as a great musician, not just a great banjo player.
I did not know this until yesterday, but Jake recorded on two tracks on the Flecktones 2003 album "Little Worlds."
Track 25: "Sleeper" with Bobby McFerrin
Track 27: "The Last Jam". with Derek Trucks/Jerry Douglas/Bernie Williams
I can't think of any uke-centric group that fits your request.
Anybody else with suggestions for instrumental, modern, music-fusion bands that use ukes?
The thing is Victor Wooten and his bro, "future man" are such a unique rhythm section. I mean who is even like them, ukulele or none?