Left of Cool
What's left for Bela Fleck?  Bluegrass, rock, jazz, classical, rock, folk--he's explored them all. After an epic, Grammy-winning live album, Fleck returns to the studio for a surprisingly subtle, intricate suite of instrumentals--and a number of vocal tracks--combining his usual daring on banjo with mandolin, synths, and theremin. The record is a dreamy soundtrack of reggae, pop, world beat, and techno, merging into an ambient-vibe-spin-club-funk-jazz (such a cumbersome label for his agile music). The most satisfying moments come with the most lovely melodies--as on the lilting "Big Country"--when Fleck's traditional soul rises with a clear voice through the virtuosity and studio wizardry.--Roy Francis Kasten