Bela Fleck, Zahir Hussian and Edgar Meyer are all virtuosos on their respective instruments, but when these three talented musicians came together, it made for an explosion of musical talent and unparalleled composition. By bending their genres to suit this musical collaborative, they unified Arabic rhythms with Classical and Bluegrass motifs in an unprecedented fashion.
The combination of banjo, double bass and tabla was bizarre but intriguing. Edgar Meyer, double bass prodigy and composer, Bela Fleck, banjo virtuoso, and Zahir Hussain, expert tabla player, are all extremely well established musicians. By creating this peculiar trio, they all stepped out of their musical comfort zones and opened themselves to other musical styles. Whether they were playing bluegrass solos over Middle Eastern beats or performing a classical composition using an Indian scale, the performance demonstrated not only their skill level, but the fascinating way in which three very different musical styles blended together.
The blur of the musicians’ fingers and the look of astonishment on the audiences’ faces are the only things that can truly describe the experience. The concert at Royce Hall was not only a display of musical talent and prowess, but also a model of musical collaboration that will hopefully inspire others in the future. Take advantage of the spectacular concerts offered at UCLA. Paying 15 dollars to see one of the most musically inspiring performances of your lifetime leaves you pleased with the green in your wallet and amazed at the opportunities found on campus.

If you missed the concert there is still hope! Their new CD, “Triple Concerto for Banjo, Tabla and Double Bass.” is a must for any fan of jazz, bluegrass, world, classical, and music as a whole.
Check them out at: http://www.belafleck.com/index.html
- DJ Double J (Jessica Jones), intern for Wild Mountain Nation