Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck and Steve Martin will be on Letterman
Thursday night. They’ll play a song written by Martin for Trischka’s new CD, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.
Musically, Trischka and Fleck are miles ahead of the narcissistic juveniles who usually perform on the late night shows. Banjo is usually a tradition-bound instrument, but these two players have changed that. Trischka was probably the first to take the instrument into the jazz and avant garde realms. Fleck has done the same, with more commercial success. He’s also done a classical album, which I like a lot.
I used to listen to the bands on Leno and Letterman just to try to keep track of what's going on in pop music, but I gave it up - too depressing. Volume, attitude and adherence to formula seem to be ruling the day.
Whatever Trischka and Fleck do, volume and attitude won't matter much. As far as formulas go, I doubt they'll appear either. What they play may not be easy to whistle, but I’ll bet it will hold up to repeated listening.
[TJH]
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