Spoken Word: The Ballad of Jed Clampett

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: The Ballad of Jed Clampett

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The Flecktones use rhythmic spoken word as if it were a jazz instrument: a core albeit sparsely played component of the arsenal digi-percussionist Roy Wooten (aka Future Man, aka the guy in the pirate hat in the image above) lends to banjo-master Bela Fleck and company's experimental jamjazz fusion. Here, two layers of yawping, mischievous rap from Future Man and partner-in-crime Bobby McFerrin serve as a madcap, untrustworthy narrative voice hovering over the instrumental cliffs of insanity in a tribute to The Beverly Hillbillies that sounds like it was arranged by Frank Zappa. Bonus points for the Sam Bush mandolin runs.

Public Domain: The Water Is Wide

Karla Bonoff (with James Taylor): The Water Is Wide

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Tim O'Brien, Darol Anger, David Grisman, Michael Manring, Bela Fleck, John Jennings: The Water Is Wide

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Indigo Girls, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan: The Water Is Wide

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From the Wikipedia entry:

"The Water Is Wide" (also called "O Waly, Waly") is thought to be an English or Scottish folk song that has been sung since the 1600s and has seen considerable popularity through to the 21st century... Cecil Sharp collected this song during his journey to America in World War I.

The inherent challenges of love are made apparent in the narrator's imagery: "Love is handsome, love is kind" during the novel honeymoon phase of any relationship. However, as time progresses, "love grows old, and waxes cold". Even true love, the narrator admits, can "fade away like morning dew"...

This post came in a roundabout way, in that my first song choice for this theme was Shenandoah, and I remembered the Heritage CD I had, which contained a version by the lovely Jane Siberry - however, when I listened, it was over 7 minutes long and a child's voice chimed in and... it just didn't resonate... so I used only Laura Love's interpretation...

However, also on the Heritage CD (an amazing project produced by fiddler Darol Anger, with a terrific array of guest stars) was a gorgeous rendition sung by Tim O'Brien, joined by other brilliant musicians... which in turn made me remember the Lilith Fair collaboration (with Indigo Girls, Jewel and then Sarah McLachlan taking turns on the verses)... which brought to mind an old favorite a few years post-college by Karla Bonoff, joined by James Taylor who lends his distinctive guitar and voice....

All are different and all are goosebump-inducing - as Darol says in his liner notes:

"In my life between the cracks as an art/folk musician, I've always dealt with the metaphor of traditional music as a river connecting the present with our parents, grandparents and on back It's a good metaphor because you can just about tease it to death. In that spirit, I've been moved to try to bring some old songs a ways downriver... They've been alternately worn smooth and built up again and again, polished to mirrors, so we see ourselves in them. They are truly emissaries from upriver, reminding us of who we are and where we come from. Point us in a direction. Are you going upriver or down?"

Early: Inman Square

Bela Fleck: Inman Square

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Béla Anton Leoš Fleck - named for three modern European composers - had already mastered a vast array of jazz, blues, folk and bluegrass styles at the tender age of 21, despite having only picked up the instrument at 15 while a student at the NYC High School of Art and Music. Two years later, he would join newgrass pioneers New Grass Revival; from there, it was a short journey to becoming perhaps the world's best-known fusion banjo player.

That his 1979 solo debut Crossing The Tracks aptly demonstrates his technical prowess even at that young age is undeniable: the music may be measured here, but from traditional bluegrass to more slippery jazztunes such as this one, the songs are exquisitely arranged, thoughtfully composed, and performed almost flawlessly. It's not Bela's best work, by a long shot, but there's more than a glimmer of his later genius, even if it would take a year or two more to truly loosen up.

As a total personal aside, this song is named after the small Cambridge, MA village where, at 21 myself, I had my first legal drink.

Shorties: Presto #1 In G Minor After Bach

Bela Fleck and Evelyn Glennie: Brahms: Studies, Anh 1A/1 - Presto #1 In G Minor After Bach

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We don't do much classical music here on Star Maker Machine, but I think the Brahms study is a perfect example of a timeless shortie that transcends its genre. The simple, startlingly successful duet of banjo and marimba really captures the way the Presto bursts into existence, fizzes around like a firecracker, and finally slams to a halt.

Popular music fans are more likely to recognize Bela Fleck's name, but Evelyn Glennie is worth knowing, too: the profoundly deaf Scottish percussionist is a Grammy winner in her own right, and a Dame Commander of the British Empire to boot. You can learn more about the world's first full-time solo percussionist here.