12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 14, 1996 Flecktones put some spunk into I Ypsi By Sam England For the Daily Bela Fleck and the Flecktones thrive on variety. This mush is evident in their performance, in which they embrace elements of folk, jazz, bluegrass and international traditions, just to name a few. Even judging by their instrumen- tation - banjo, R bass and Synth- Be Axe Drumitar, ant electronic drum the synthesizer - the Pease A ud Flecktones aren't easy to categorize. They're just easy to enjoy, as evidenced by their performance Sunday at Eastern Michigan University's Pease Auditorium. The trio, consisting of Bela Fleck on banjo, bassist Victor Wooten and per- cussionist Future Man, along with guest stringed instrumentalist Mike Marshall, astonished the audience with their unique approach to music. Fleck himself was enthusiastic in describing his group's live approach. As he awaited a sound check last Friday at an Ashland, Ky. venue he told The Michigan Daily, "We just try and put it together in a way that feels good to everybody. And 'everybody' means the audience and us. So everybody, hopefully, walks away feeling like they got something out of it. Maybe they hated something, too. Maybe some- thing we did they didn't like. That's all right." If there were listeners who hated much about the Flecktones' perfor- mance, they were noticeably silent Sunday. The group's reception, uncom- monly boisterous in the somewhat EVIEW la Fleck and Flecktones Jitorium, EMU Nov. 10, 1996 conversation with refined concert hall, became only warmer as the show progressed. From the accessi- ble, melodious groove of the first instrumental piece to Fleck's friendly the crowd, they set the welcoming tone of the show early. With that, they also prepared the audi- ence for the wide spectrum of sounds on the way. In the course of the show, Fleck would switch repeatedly between elec- tric and acoustic banjoes. Setting things off with a trademark bluegrass jam, he acted as both leader and fol- lower through various pieces and even took a solo spot. He sat on the edge of the stage, inches away from the front row of listeners. Within his perfor- mance, he managed to pluck out "Amazing Grace" without touching the fretboard, but instead adjusting, his banjo's tuning knobs to find the notes. Bela Fleck's musical grace was indeed amazing. Victor Wooten did his share of acro- batics, as well. His muscular, impossi- bly quick bass licks on such burners as "Almost Twelve" and "New South Africa" could turn suddenly into the most delicate of tones. "When you see Victor do what he does in person, in the same room, sud- denly it's all the more amazing, 'cause it wasn't a studio trick, it wasn't a camera trick," Fleck said. "His humanity is comparable to your own, you know?" This rang true, particularly in Wooten's improvised bass solo, in which he managed to tease out tunes with just the chiming sounds of har- monics. Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed," the keyboard exercise "Chopsticks" and Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia" floated from his strings -just a few of the melodies he incorporated within one expansive piece. Future Man, the flamboyant brother of bassist Wooten, was undoubtedly the most surprising stage presence, both in his colorful dress and his use of com- pletely electronic percussion. With his Synth-Axe Drumitar (a wildly colored guitar-sized drum synthesizer), he flowed easily with the other musicians. The quickness with which he could press the Drumitar's pads made for intricate, textured drumming, but sounded oddly artificial. Future Man's solo, for instance, incorporated such sounds as speech excerpts, choral humming and church bells in addition to drum samples. This variety, though, became somewhat tire- some in the course of his solo; he often sounded repetitive. Technology, he showed, meets with certain limits in music. Renowned bluegrass artist Mike Marshall joined the trio for the entirety of the show, making a beautiful addition to the group. During his turn as band- leader, Marshall strapped on what Fleck termed "The Mother of All Mandolins" to perform his lighthearted composi- tion, "Gator Strut." By the spirited end of the Flecktones' show, everyone got in on the act. Shortly after the shining melody of "Stomping Grounds," they got into their Phish- and Bob Marley- inspired encore. It was then that the Deadhead contingent of the crowd rushed to the front to dance freely, while the rest of the audience watched, bemused. The encore spoke volumes of the band's eclectic nature. They used a huge variety of sounds and dis- played a variety of influences, attract- ing a diverse crowd to put on a truly amazing show. Fleck, with his absolute modesty, characterized best the experience of the Flecktones' performance. "I get to play with them every night, and I get the inspiration of playing with people that are as good - as good as it gets," he said. "And that's what makes it wonder- ful for me. It lifts me up." Bela Fleck (right) with Future Man (center) and Victor Wooten (left). 1 Diverse participants to read at Writers Harvest By Elizabeth Lucas Daily Arts Writer This year's fifth-annual Writers Harvest reading should stand out from its predecessors, due to the diversity of its participants. Like other University readings, it is part of the Visiting Writers Series sponsored by the Hopwood Awards Program. However, this event is sponsored P by the Share Our Strength organi- Wr zation and is a benefit for hunger relief. All proceeds from the reading Suggested will go to Food Gatherers, a local hunger relief organization. Similar readings will take place across the country tonight, but Ann Arbor's ver- sion should be unique, as it emphasizes writers from the University and Ann Arbor communities. "We wanted to showcase some local writers ... writers we haven't heard from," said Andrea Beauchamp, associate for the Hopwood Awards Program. She cited the fact that University professor and playwright OyamO will be part of the event. "We've never had a dramatist read (at the Writers Harvest reading)," Beauchamp said. c R. ite Ra 1$5 Other participants include Debra Allbery, an Ann Arbor poet; Laura Kasischke, a Chelsea poet and nov- elist; and Anton Shammas, a poet and novelist who has taught at the University. Allbery also said she was pleased with the variety of writers selected. "I don't know the work of Anton Shammas and OyamO very well, so I'm looking forward to E V I E W becoming acquainted with Drs Harvest them," she said. Tonight at 7:30 The writers who will take part ckham Amphitheater in this event appear to be looking donation at the door forward to the reading, as well. "It's a very good cause. I was pleased to be asked," said Kasischke, a University alum and instructor at Washtenaw Community College. OyamO agreed with this assessment. "I think these are good ways to make a social contribution to people who are really needful. It's an honor to help people, and it's part of your responsibility as a citizen," he said. Allbery pointed out another benefit of the event. "It's a nice opportunity to read, too," she said. "I've only been in Ann Arbor the past couple of years, and haven't met a lot of writers. I'm looking forward to reading in a new town." Beauchamp expects that audiences will responE with the same enthusiasm and make this reading a popular one. With a suggested donation of $5, she prod jected that the event would raise between $1,000 and $1,500. "One year we raised the second-highest amount-in the U.S.," Beauchamp said. "It's usually pretty well- attended. Some of the participants even think that the University should sponsor more readings to benefit charitable organizations. "I think if they're really a success and seem to help, it's not a bad idea to do things like this:' said OyamO. Allbery agreed, saying the importance of such events was in "the awareness that Share Our Strength and other events like this can raise." For now, though, audiences can attend the Writers Harvest reading to help others and also experience an enjoyable literary evening. As Beauchamp said, "There are four different writers - there's always something you're interested in." PlaywrIght OyamO will read at tonight's Writers Harvest. ®! _- 1. Etw Lirbiguut Ba iI IS HIRING for Winter Term! The Michigan Daily's Display Advertising Department is looking for some highly motivated students for the upcoming Winter term. 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