Bela Fleck at the Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center
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Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn played at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Art Center Wednesday April 15th to a full and extremely enthusiastic audience. For those who do not know this married musical duo, Bela is a gifted banjo player who composes and performs with great musicians from all over the world in a vast range of genres. He has been nominated for 30 Grammy awards and has won 15; Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, his band from the late 80’s, combined blue grass, jazz and rock- he’s a “musician’s musician” and it’s clear that Bela’s mind never stops…
Abigail Washburn is an extreme force of energy and talent as well, she would have to be to partner in music and love with Bela. Drawing from gospel, Appalachian mountain songs and Chinese folk (Abigail studied in China and speaks Mandarin) she sings, writes, and plays the banjo. Washburn has a way of making the “story”, be it a song or a dance, visceral.
Together on stage it was pure delight. Bela and Abigail had a wonderful rapport- teasing each other, laughing with the crowd, telling stories… The audience was filled with fans and “virgins”, old and young, from all six towns, eager to have this experience. The Martha's Vineyard Performing Art Center was the perfect venue and it felt as if all the Islanders were reconnecting to each other after a challenging winter. Bela and Abigail returned the joy with each piece and encouraged participation. Abigail led a call and response folk song from the 30’s about being a coal miner’s wife that was riveting.
Phil Da Rosa of TPS (The Print Shop Presents) produced this performance and part of the proceeds went to benefit the Island Collaborative. He is working on MV Sound 2 this summer which will show case music, dance and food for two days this July in Oak Bluffs. Harbor View Hotel as well as WMVY, WCAI, the Gazette and the Times helped sponsor this performance.