'Sco to showcase Fleck and friends

Trio of eminent musicians will perform on Monday

Béla Fleck's following is as varied as his musical ability. His unequivocal banjo playing is revered by members of every generation and every class. And with his recent performance on Dave Matthews Band's latest album, Before These Crowded Streets, Fleck has elevated the standards of pop music. A romantic, dynamic and playful artist, Fleck is almost untouchable-but not quite.

Fleck recently joined with fellow string players Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall to experiment with traditional and "nonformal" styles of music. Though each musician has applied his talent (and succeeded) at a variety of fields-rock, jazz, blues, reggae, classical, Brazilian and more-the most common genre among the trio is bluegrass.

In fact, all three artists have spent at least fifteen years perfecting his relationship with bluegrass and, consequently, has emerged with his own distinctive sound. According to the trio's label, SONY, Fleck "pops strings and frames melodies within deft streams of arpeggios." Marshall drives their songs with the bluegrass "chop," and Meyer maneuvers his bass to perform in violin range.

Clearly, this is no ordinary melding of musicians. Meyer, most familiar to classical audiences as a stellar bassist, said of the trio: "We have a natural interest in exploring different styles and in pushing the edges with the instruments."

With Marshall well-versed in mandolin, fiddle, guitar and mandola, these gods of string shoud have no problem varying their sound. Furthermore, Flecks' bluesy fingerpicking and Meyer's funk and jazz influence challenge the boundaries of bluegrass.

Each artist has already proved to be individually talented. Fleck won a 1996 Best Pop Instrumental Grammy for his work with the well-known Flecktones band. Meyer's featured appearances include a solo on Hank Williams Jr.'s Ain't Misbehavin' and Marshall has shared the stage with David Grisman, Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor and other acoustic masters.

Meyer stated, "The essence of what we aim to do is make something that's bigger than the sum of the parts, while naturally and even aggressively ascertain our own identities."

One of the most concentrated acts of talent ever to tour, this trio will undoubtedly be a highlight in Oberlin history when they perform at the 'Sco on Monday, Sept 28. It is truly an opportunity to experience music at its finest-an opportunity not to be missed.

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall will be performing as a trio of individual musicians on Monday, September 28 at the 'Sco.