“Gestalt” is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s the deal here. They are both great, but when they play together the creative energy, humanity, and musicality shoot right through the roof.
As a banjo player... hobby... this duo is truly on the very tippy-top of that proverbial (musical achievement) shelve. Kudos for their incredible skill, musicality and tasteful presentation... no virtuosity just to dazzle at the expense of melody... just pure goodness. Oh, and blending open-back clawhammer with finger picked resonator was, genius. Cheers!
Me: I'll put this on in the background so I have some great music to listen to while I search for something on the internet. Also Me: watches the whole video straight through without ever opening another tab. wonderful stuff
Niche Marriages of the 21st Century. It's weird when you realize that what are probably the two best banjo players in the world just up and married eachother.
Abby is amazing, far better than i could ever be, but she doesn't come even close to best clawhammer in my opinion. This isn't to detract from her, she's incredible, no denying that, but not the best. Now, Bela being best 3 finger picker around, there is actually something to that claim. In the end they are definitely both top tier banjo players and it's an absolutely joy to hear them play together. Probably the best banjo player in either style alive is some kid in some holler or some dude in India we've never heard of.
So amazing. Fun fact: Bela Fleck has been nominated in more Grammy categories than anyone else. Shows his incredible versatility. (He's been nominated 33 times and won 15.) The Flecktones were unreal too. Top-tier musicians.
So beautiful these folks mend tones like no others! saw this front row in regina many years ago at a banjo workshop with Old Man Ludica another great banjo player...so much love Bela and Abigail thanks so much!
I don't have to imagine: I saw them perform two days ago, in a great theater with great acoustics and a great sound system. They were GREAT. If you get the chance to do the same, don't pass it by.
The tone Abigail gets with that claw technique is so freaking awesome. I’m hoping to get a banjo soon, and while I think I will learn the traditional picking first (for bluegrass utility), I really want to learn to play that claw way too after seeing (hearing) this. Are they both playing resonator banjos? A great banjo (or better yet two!) in the hands of great players with a great recording setup is the most pleasant tone in music to me.
No, abigail's banjo is not a resonator, should be a open back one. Also, I don't think I'd ever consider bluegrass the "traditional" picking if that is what you mean, 2 fingers or traditional 3 fingers are older and with deeper roots, scruggs style came quite some time later
She plays the clawhammer style vs. his 3 finger style. Totally different styles producing different sounds and a player is generally proficient in just one. It’s pretty interesting.
I guess you have to like banjo a lot to listen to this but how can you not like banjo when you hear such masters of the instrument go at it like that? I like how Bela tweaks his fifth string tuner just a bit during the performance and you almost don’t even notice it.
We are such strange monkeys. Such a strange lot. And I wish my existance was filled with beauty, harmony, love. But it is not. And when I look back on my life, scrabbling in the dirt, trying to find something to call my own. So many I have upset. And so many have upset me. And then I hear this. I hear this. And I wish I was more than I am. I wish us humans were more than what we are. That there is a higher, better place. But there is not. But oh, how my heart sings that there is - and in the song, there it is. This sings this to me - and in the song I am lost and dream of better things. The true call of America. Not the truth. Not the reality of it - but of the dream, the song, that there is a place, a beautiful place where we all can throw off our shackles and say: This is where I belong. I have arrived. I belong. And for short, fleeting moments? I do.
The way she kept looking at him, I was like "woah, that girl is into Bela", then I noticed the rings and was like "oh no, that ain't right, they're each in marriages". Then I looked up Bela Fleck, and sure enough they're married to each other, so that explains it. Wish my wife looked at me like that when I play my banjo instead of a look of judging disgust because my music isn't on the radio or tiktok. She's a wonderful woman, but her taste in music is awful.
People are often bored by things too complex for their inferior brains to comprehend. For instance, I'm sure that a chimpanzee would find boring a virtuosically-played game of chess.
