Béla Fleck And The Flecktones-Flight of the Cosmic Hippo (1991)

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones are an American band that emerged in the late 1980s, led by the talented Béla Fleck, a banjo virtuoso and enthusiast of American roots music such as bluegrass, country, and rural blues. Fleck was supported by funk bassist Victor Wooten, his brother, keyboardist Roy Wooten, and jazz pianist Howard Levy. The band's musical approach was deeply rooted in the sounds of the American South, with many nuances of jazz fusion and post-bop. They created a unique and distinctive style by integrating the banjo into jazz, forging an alternative sound at a time when the jazz-rock genre was experiencing a decline. Their style, independent of pop and rock trends, soon found a massive and receptive audience around the world, who became their loyal fans. Their early albums showcase a total eclecticism, superbly blending different musical styles that stylistically seem completely disparate. While the band stands out for its instrumental mastery, it is the warmth of the melodies, the relaxing tones, and the creative use of tempos, along with the musical dynamics, that propelled this group to the peak of creativity in its early years.