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Béla Fleck returns to the State Theatre on April 6
BVC and a British sage ponder the future of James Bond
By Br yan VanC ampe n
By Br yan VanC ampe n
B
éla Fleck is widely considered one of the world’s foremost banjo players, bringing the instrument from its bluegrass roots into jazz, classical and other musical genres. In the 2008 documentary “Throw Down Your Heart,” Fleck traveled to Africa to collaborate with native musicians and explore the history of the instrument. Winner of 14 Grammy Awards, Fleck returns to the State Theatre on April 6. Béla Fleck spoke to the Ithaca Times about “Throw Down Your Heart,” his current line-up and why guitars aren’t funny. Ithaca Times: I really enjoyed “Throw Down Your Heart.” It feels like there’s some larger “project” aspect to what you do. It’s about learning and observing as much as it’s about playing music.
Béla Fleck: Many thanks, I loved doing that project and all the incredible musicians I encountered in Africa! IT: What can you tell me about the show you’re bringing to Ithaca? BF: This is a monster bluegrass band, playing my new instrumental music but also including some trad stuff too. It doesn’t get better than these guys, and I am getting such a kick out of playing with all of them. IT: Talk a little about your current touring group? BF: Every one of them deserves a heap of accolades, which they do tend to get. They represent the top level of our music. They play at a classical virtuoso level, but with that homespun rootedness which makes bluegrass one of America’s greatest musical offerings. They are Bryan Sutton on guitar, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Justin Moses on dobro, fiddle, and banjo, Sierra Hull on mandolin and Mark Schatz on bass. IT: When Steve Martin exploded in the mid-’70s I bought a banjo, but I could never make as much headway as I was with the guitar. What is it about that instrument that worked for you? BF: Guitar just isn’t funny! Honestly it shouted out to me the first time I heard Earl Scruggs on the Beverly Hillbillies sitcom. It bit me on the brain and in the
W
arning: Major franchiseending spoilers ahead. If you haven’t seen the new James Bond movie, you have been warned. So, if you hadn’t heard yet, James Bond snuffs it at the end of “No Time to Die.” As in, Daniel Craig doesn’t want to play 007 anymore, he’s taking the ball and going home for supper. Craig was written out of the series in the most depressing way possible. I should have seen this coming; the Craig era has gotten less and less fun, so much so that I can barely remember the plot, something about Rami Malek as the latest bad guy, and Léa Seydoux returns from “Spectre” (2015); it’s all a sad blur for me since last October. In these times of trouble, I reached out to my pal Jamie Lewis from the UK, and one of the sharpest, smartest cats when it comes to pop culture. He noticed that I included “No Time To Die” on my list of 2021’s worst movies, and that’s where our conversation picks up. JL: Double yes on Bond. So glad we’re done with Craig. I feel like I’m owed
double helpings of Roger Moore for the next decade. BVC: If you like Bond with a turkey wattle neck, yeah… JL: What the world needs now is some Roger Moore. A return to the raised eyebrow. BVC: The whole time I was watching “No Time to Die” I found myself thinking about the McDonald’s meal in the first “Kingsman” [movie]. Then again, with the exception of, say, “From Russia With Love” (1962), I’ve always liked the more over the top bonkers Bond movies. I’d much rather watch “Die Another Day” (2002) than “For Your Eyes Only” (1981). So…Is Bond over? Is there a way for Bond to continue? Will they ever be fun if they do? JL: Of course it’s not done. It survived [George] Lazenby. It survived “Never say Never Again” (1983). And the series has always promised: James Bond Will Return. I feel like it’s time to go back to a more joyous Bond. Somewhere between the hammy CGI mess of the latter Brosnan and the po-faced misery of Daniel Craig. If they’re sensible, they will return to the good days of providing some much-needed chutzpah, justice and jaw-dropping audacity to contin u ed on page 17
heart. I’m a New York City kid, so there’s no cultural reason why it struck me so deeply, but I continue to be moved by it.
Béla Fleck plays at the State Theatre on April 6. (Photo: Provided)
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A still from “No Time to Die.” (Photo: Provided)
