Original Flecktones perform in Skokie

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The Original Bela Fleck & The Flecktones perform at Skokie's North Shore Center on March 2.  |  Courtesy of NCC

Updated: February 21, 2012 6:51PM

Fresh off his recent Grammy win for Best Instrumental Composition, the legendary and groundbreaking musician Bela Fleck and his original Flecktones are coming to Skokie.

Fleck, a banjoist, composer and bandleader, has reformed the original lineup of Bela Fleck and The Flecktones and will bring that concert experience to Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts at an 8 p.m. show March 2.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones combine the sounds of jazz, African, bluegrass and more, with famed bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist Roy Wooten and pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy of Evanston. The band formed in 1988 for a single performance on PBS’ “Lonesome Pine Special.” That one-night stand led to three albums and a tour schedule of about 150 shows a year, numerous solo projects and five Grammys. The Flecktones took some time off in 2008, before reuniting with the original members in 2011 and releasing “Rocket Science.”

Bela Fleck recently took some time to answer questions via email.

Q: How did you first become interested in bluegrass and the banjo?

A: I first heard the banjo on the Beverly Hillbillies sitcom. It was Earl Scruggs and he had a profound effect on me, as he did on many people.

Q: Why did you decide to incorporate bluegrass and jazz?

A: I had a great teacher named Tony Trischka, who was on the forefront of these kinds of explorations, and I became his protégé. He was probably the biggest influence. Then I fell for jazz, and it became a long-term goal for me.

Q: Was there a mission behind the Flecktones when you first started the band, and has that changed over the years? Has your approach to making the music changed?

A: I was looking for a group of like-minded individuals with whom I could pursue idealistic musical goals with. And I found these guys, and it became a lot more than I had hoped for.

Q: Why did you decide to get the original lineup back together?

A: It was just the way things evolved. Jeff Coffin had taken a full-time job
with Dave Mathews Band, after 14 years with the Flecktones. In order to continue, we needed to reinvent. And the idea of doing that with Howard again was very exciting. He was everyone’s first choice. And luckily he was into doing it again. So 17 years later, we find ourselves together again!

Q: How was it having Howard Levy back in the mix — was it like no time had passed or was there an adjustment period?

A: The adjustment was very brief. We did a two-week tour of Europe to test out the waters. I remember the first rehearsal day being kind of surreal. Next day, it felt like we were back to where we were, except all new.

Q: What can audiences in Naperville expect to hear?

A: It’s the third day of the new tour. We should be kicking hard by then. We’ll be playing a combo of music from the first three albums and the new “Rocket Science” album.

Q: What’s up next for Bela Fleck in 2012 and beyond?

A: In May, I start touring with the great pianist Marcus Roberts and his trio. We have a recording that we made in December that is pretty exciting. I also plan to be putting out a recording of my banjo concerto which premiered in September with the Nashville Symphony.

We’ll be talking about what and when the Flecktones meet again during this next tour, which is two months long, and is the end of the year we agreed to tour together. (But) I believe there will be a next time!