Banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck re-imagines Gershwin on new ‘Rhapsody….’ album

Renowned banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck is set to release a groundbreaking project that reimagines George Gershwin’s iconic ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ on its centennial anniversary. Pre-order at the link here.

Available on February 12, precisely a hundred years after Gershwin’s historic premiere at Aeolian Hall in New York City, Fleck’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ album pushes the boundaries of the classic composition with three variations: “Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” “Rhapsody in Blue(s),” and a banjo-centric orchestration performed by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Eric Jacobson. The album also features Gershwin’s ‘Rialto Ripples’ and the newly discovered ‘Unidentified Piece for Banjo’ from the Library of Congress.

“My first thought was, “Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” is the most horrible idea I could ever imagine,’” Fleck admits. “But when we started to actually explore it, I realised that it actually sounded quite good. With the bluegrass version, we had the opportunity to stretch out, have some fun and make some different creative moves.” He’s joined by the core band from his Grammy-winning My Bluegrass Heart band: Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton. “Rhapsody in Blue(s)”—the blues version—features long time Béla collaborators Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Victor Wooten.

The innovative project is a testament to Fleck’s lifelong admiration for Gershwin and his compositions. Fleck reflects on the inspiration behind the unheard gem, ‘Unidentified Piece for Banjo,’ describing it as a ragtime tune through a Gershwin lens, played authentically on an old gut-string, five-string banjo.

Rhapsody in Blue will be available on LP, CD, and streaming, with pre-orders open. As part of a 13-stop European tour, Fleck will perform in the UK and Ireland in February, showcasing his inventive take on Gershwin’s masterpiece. Over four decades, Béla Fleck has continuously pushed the banjo’s boundaries, earning 16 Grammy awards in various genres. His reinterpretation of Rhapsody in Blue promises a fresh and revelatory experience for listeners, inviting them into a captivating exploration of this timeless American classic.

Renowned banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck is set to release a groundbreaking project that reimagines George Gershwin’s iconic ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ on its centennial anniversary. Pre-order at the link here.

Available on February 12, precisely a hundred years after Gershwin’s historic premiere at Aeolian Hall in New York City, Fleck’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ album pushes the boundaries of the classic composition with three variations: “Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” “Rhapsody in Blue(s),” and a banjo-centric orchestration performed by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Eric Jacobson. The album also features Gershwin’s ‘Rialto Ripples’ and the newly discovered ‘Unidentified Piece for Banjo’ from the Library of Congress.

“My first thought was, “Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” is the most horrible idea I could ever imagine,’” Fleck admits. “But when we started to actually explore it, I realised that it actually sounded quite good. With the bluegrass version, we had the opportunity to stretch out, have some fun and make some different creative moves.” He’s joined by the core band from his Grammy-winning My Bluegrass Heart band: Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton. “Rhapsody in Blue(s)”—the blues version—features long time Béla collaborators Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Victor Wooten.

The innovative project is a testament to Fleck’s lifelong admiration for Gershwin and his compositions. Fleck reflects on the inspiration behind the unheard gem, ‘Unidentified Piece for Banjo,’ describing it as a ragtime tune through a Gershwin lens, played authentically on an old gut-string, five-string banjo.

Rhapsody in Blue will be available on LP, CD, and streaming, with pre-orders open. As part of a 13-stop European tour, Fleck will perform in the UK and Ireland in February, showcasing his inventive take on Gershwin’s masterpiece. Over four decades, Béla Fleck has continuously pushed the banjo’s boundaries, earning 16 Grammy awards in various genres. His reinterpretation of Rhapsody in Blue promises a fresh and revelatory experience for listeners, inviting them into a captivating exploration of this timeless American classic.