Grammy winners Abigail Washburn and Béla Fleck — named “king and queen of the banjo” by Paste Magazine — are coming to the Koger Center on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a symphonic performance with the South Carolina Philharmonic.
We were excited and more than a little starstruck when we got to pick Fleck’s brain about banjo-playing, what it’s like to perform with the love of his life, his go-to tour snacks + more.
What’s your favorite thing about collaborating with Abigail?
Béla: Abby takes lots of cookie breaks. I like that in a musician.
Actually, it’s her deeply musical self that is my favorite, along with the way she commits to the musical moment.
You two are known for combining your distinct styles — can you tell our readers more about that?
Béla: Yes. Abby plays clawhammer, which is an older style connected to the African roots of the banjo. I play in the three-finger style pioneered by Earl Scruggs. The tricky part is lining these two styles up and making a complete sound from just those elements.
Abby plays more relaxed, and I tend to play more aggressively on the front end of the beat, so we have had to meet in the middle.
What have you been listening to lately?
Béla: Zakir Husain. He is an ongoing inspiration, although we lost him a month ago from this physical plane...
You did a session for NPR a few years back that your then-4-year-old peacefully slept through. Has he gotten into banjo since?
Béla: He’s now 11 and plays the fiddle. We have a 6-year-old who loves drums and piano. No banjo interest so far, but it’s not over yet.
Have you played in Columbia before?
Béla: I first played Columbia in the 80s with New Grass Revival, and later with the Flecktones. I’ve always enjoyed being there.
And now, for the really hard-hitting journalism: What’s your go-to road snack?
Béla: Sumo oranges. Or pizza. Or gluten-free vodka. Mixed with celery and dark chocolate.
Actually, I only eat monthly.*