South Carolina Philharmonic welcomes multiple Grammy - winners Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

Columbia, SC (November 9, 2009) – The Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the South Carolina Philharmonic hosting Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. The multiple Grammy-winners will bring their sound to Columbia, the first sleigh stop on the national Flecktones Holiday Tour! 

“Jingle All the Way” blends the jazz, bluegrass and fusion sound of the multiple Grammy Award winners with Music Director Morihiko Nakahara and the South Carolina Philharmonic for a holiday concert. The band and Nakahara worked together this past December in Spokane, Wash., where Nakahara is resident conductor. “We had an awesome time together in Spokane. The band doesn’t come together often, so it’s quite an event when they do. I’m so excited to reunite with them on the East Coast,” Nakahara said.

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones’ album Jingle All the Way (Rounder) won the 2009 Grammy for best pop instrumental album and the fiery single “Sleigh Ride” from the decorated album was nominated for best country instrumental performance. The band is set to perform “Sleigh Ride” and other songs from the album, many with the orchestra. The band is also to play non-holiday songs, with and without the orchestra. Columbia is the first stop on the Flecktones’ nationwide Holiday Tour.

The band is led by Grammy-nominated banjo player Béla Fleck. Brothers Victor Wooten and Roy “Futureman” Wooten, who play bass and percussion, respectively, and saxophonist Jeff Coffin round out the band. Together, they’ve produced 12 albums since 1990 and won Grammy Awards in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2007 and 2009.

Sales to the general public begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 after an exclusive pre-sale to SCP 2009/2010 Masterworks Series subscribers. 

Ticket prices for “Jingle All the Way” will cost $70, $60, $50 and $40, and student and military discounts will be offered for the $40 balcony seating only. Tickets will be available through Capitol Tickets at the Carolina Coliseum, by calling 803.251.2222 or online at www.capitoltickets.com . 

The SCP’s performance with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones would not be possible without the generous support of lead sponsors AmerisBank, Cyberwoven, Rick Palyok and Ben Rex, among others.