For those old enough to remember the 1972 movie Deliverance, you probably associate two banjos with the popular song from that movie. But if you are interested in a much more current, and ultimately far more pleasurable, presentation of two banjos you need look no further than Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn. This husband-and-wife duo performs Thursday night at Royce Hall at UCLA.
Fleck is arguably the finest banjo player in the world. Just look at the 16 Grammy Awards he already has. When you add his wife’s wonderful voice in addition to her playing, you have an evening of music that will transcend your expectations for what a banjo-centric concert might be.
One example of their work can be found in this music video for “Let It Go” their most recent collaboration, Echo in the Valley, which came out last year on Rounder Records. (Note this is not the song from Frozen.)
Their most recent video is “Come All You Coal Minders/Take Me to Harlan” from the same album. The video includes performance by PIlobolus.
You can expect their son, Juno, to join on stage adding to the music for this show at Royce Hall.
Photo by Jim Mcguire