|
Béla Fleck and World Music Superstar up next at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
Some consider him the world’s best banjo player. That could be a matter of debate, but it is a hard fact that Béla Fleck holds the record for being nominated in more Grammy categories than any other musician.
The nine-time Grammy winner, who has, coincidentally, been nominated in nine different Grammy categories, will appear at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival in Orkney Springs with African superstar Toumani Diabaté on Friday, August 7, in Orkney Springs.
A native of New York City, Béla Fleck first picked up a banjo at the age of 15 after becoming a fan of bluegrass music. In high school, he experimented with bebop jazz on his banjo. Since then, he has almost always been involved in unique groups and projects that cross genre lines and push musical styles. Classical, jazz, country, bluegrass – he’s done it all and has the Grammy nominations to show for it.
Indicative of that depth and breadth is his newest album, "Throw Down Your Heart," the third volume in Béla's renowned "Tales From the Acoustic Planet" series. "Throw Down Your Heart" is a companion to the award-winning film of the same name.
Fleck’s most recent musical journey grew from his trip to West Africa to trace the origins of his instrument, the banjo. During the project, his music transcended barriers of language and culture, and he found common ground with musicians ranging from local villagers to international superstars such as Toumani Diabaté to create some of the most meaningful music of his career.
Diabaté, a native of Mali, is considered by many to be the greatest kora player in the world and he is certainly the most well known. The kora is a harp-like instrument with 21 strings unique to West Africa. More than anyone else, it is Toumani Diabaté who is responsible for bringing this instrument to audiences around the world. He is self-taught, only listening to his father play for guidance. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Smith and Led Zeppelin were popular in his community in Mali; he says those American rockers are among his major influences.
His many solo albums and collaborations have placed him on the top tier of instrumental artists worldwide. His new recording "The Mande Variations" was nominated for a Grammy award.
The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival’s venue is a rustic pavilion on the grounds of the old Orkney Springs Hotel, a renovated 19th century National Historic Landmark now part of the Shrine Mont Camp and Conference Center. It is about 15 miles west of Mount Jackson, Va., and Interstate 81. The concert is at 8 p.m. and the gates open at 6 p.m. Reserved pavilion tickets are $30 and general admission lawn tickets are $25. Tickets can be purchased at www.musicfest.org or by calling (540) 459-3396 or (800) 459-3396.
The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival’s 2009 summer season Gold level sponsors are Shenandoah Memorial Hospital – Valley Health, Shenandoah County Tourism, Shenandoah Valley Music Festival Guild and the Virginia Lottery. The Silver level sponsors are Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and ShelRand Enterprises and the Bronze level sponsors are Graves-Light Wealth Management of Wachovia Securities; Rodney Shepherd – Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.; Lenhart Obenshain PC; Shentel and Tracy Miller – Edward Jones Investments.
The Festival’s 2009 Official Providers are Holiday Inn Express and Shaffer’s Barbecue and Catering and the ticket sponsor is Bryce Resort.
The 2009 Media Partners are The Northern Virginia Daily/nvdaily.com; The Free Press; WUSQ 102.5 FM; WAZT-TV; WMRA 90.7 FM; 7Bends.com; WSIG 96.9 FM; WLTK 103.3 FM/WBTX 1470 AM; WMXH 105.7 FM/WRAA 1330 AM; WHSV-TV3 Winchester; WVPT-Virginia’s Public Television; Shentel Cable Company ; WZRV 95.3 FM/WFTR 1450 AM; ShenandoahValley.com.
-
|
More stories on Shenandoah.com:
 (MASSANUTTEN REGIONAL LIBRARY)
- Yesterday
(Bluemont Concert Series)
- Wednesday Jul 28 2010
(Woodstock Enhancement Committee)
- Wednesday Jul 28 2010
(Virginia Farm Bureau)
- Wednesday Jul 28 2010
(The Warren Sentinel)
- Monday Nov 30 2009
|
Copyright ©2004 SHENTEL Service Company
| 
