Rhiannon Giddens is one of my favorite music historians and musicologists. She approaches American folk music, particularly that of the 19th century, from a unique perspective.
Bela Fleck, in my opinion, is one of the greatest musicians of all time.
I found this article to be thought provoking.
Rhiannon Giddens and Béla Fleck: The Banjo Summit
| quote | | In February this year Beyoncé released ‘Texas Hold ’Em’, a single previewing her forthcoming Cowboy Carter album which embraced country music and the role of Black Americans in the genre. The banjo riff that begins ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ was played by Rhiannon Giddens, an artist who has done more than most to reinstate the importance of Black Americans in US folk music traditions. The success of Cowboy Carter, which made Beyoncé the first Black woman to top the US country album charts, had many accusing her of cultural appropriation. Meanwhile, the same accusation was also being fired at George Gershwin, whose ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ turned 100 in February and still faces criticism for its appropriation of African-American jazz. To mark the anniversary, Béla Fleck released Rhapsody in Blue, an album inspired by the Gershwin classic, and in tandem wrote an op-ed for WBGO (US public radio) to address the continued criticism of Gershwin. |
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Bela Fleck's "Rhapsody in Blue" was one of those albums that I had to buy as soon as it became available.
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"Ain't no rest for the whiskers."
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