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Béla Fleck: UFO Tofu

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Released: 1992
Time:
 54:59
Category: Progressive Jazz
Producer(s): See Artists ...
Rating: ********.. (8/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.flecktones.com
Appears with: Victor Wooten
Purchase date: 1999
Price in €: 15,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] The West County (B.Fleck) - 4:30
[2] Sex in a Pan (V.L.Wooten) - 3:33
[3] Nemo's Dream (B.Fleck) - 5:07
[4] Bonnie & Slyde (B.Fleck) - 4:18
[5] Scuttlebutt (B.Fleck) - 4:04
[6] UFO Tofu (B.Fleck) - 3:46
[7] Magic Fingers (B.Fleck) - 5:13
[8] True North (B.Fleck) - 4:54
[9] Life Without Elvis (B.Fleck) - 5:06
[10] Seresta (M.Fest/H.Levy) - 3:39
[11] The Yee-Haw Factor (B.Fleck) - 6:57
[12] After the Storm (B.Fleck) - 3:52

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


BÉLA FLECK - Banjo, Producer
ROY "Future Man" WOOTEN - Syntaxe Drumitar, Producer
VICTOR LEMONTE WOOTEN - Bass, Producer
HOWARD LEVY - Synthesizer, Harmonica, Piano, Ocarina, Producer, Penny Whistle

BIL VORNDICK - Engineer
MICAHEL NOTT - Art Direction, Illustration
TIMOTHY WHITE - Photography
DEAN DIXON - Add. Photography

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1992 CD Warner Brothers 2-45016
1992 LP Warner Brothers 9 45016-2
1992 CS Warner Brothers 4-45016



Though the Flecktones didn't change their formula with their third album, UFO Tofu, they did manage to craft one of their more consistent and impressive efforts. The band's fusion of jazz, bluegrass and funk gels quite well on UFO Tofu — not only does Bela Fleck turn in a rich, eclectic performance, but pianist Howard Levy's deft lines and inventive phrasing dominates the album. Occasionally, the material is lightweight, functioning only as vehicle for the group's solos. Then again, the whole point of Fleck's music is the solos, so that shouldn't upset his fans too much. Of course, it doesn't help him win new ones, either.

Thom Owens, All-Music Guide, © 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



There's a sly wit to every Béla Fleck & the Flecktones album; the foursome of virtuosos takes its progressive fusion of jazz and bluegrass to such extremes (and with such ease), the musicians can't help but smile. "Nemo's Dream" exemplifies the spirit of the group as each member--Fleck on banjo, Howard Levy on piano, Victor Wooten on bass, and Future Man on drum-synth--let loose and have their fun. The title track erupts with a flurry of notes from Fleck and Levy that slowly evolves into intricately patterned quartet interplay. "Magic Fingers" never stops being funky. And "True North" starts out (oddly enough for this crew) with a plaintive, New Agey pennywhistle. "The Yee-haw Factor" returns the disc back to its wild bluegrass roots. One of the Flecktones' very best.

Jason Verlinde, Amazon.com



Wilder Name; doch es kommt noch besser: Béla Fleck spielt Banjo, seine Flecktones lümmeln an synthetischem Schlagzeug, Okarina, Mundharmonika sowie vier-, fünf-, sechssaitigem und Stereo-Baß rum. Wer die Platte in den Player schiebt, wird durchdrehen vor Begeisterung - über die virtuose Klasse dieses ungewöhnlichen Quartetts, das den aufregendsten Crossover ohne Worte liefert, den es dieses Jahr gab. Fleck zaubert Stimmungen, die unter die Haut gehen - sofern man bereit ist, mit offenen Ohren und denkendem Hirn dabeizusein.

© Audio



By their third recording, UFO Tofu, the world has started to become accustomed to the novelties of the Flecktones: Béla's Charlie Parker banjo, Howard Levy's sinuous keyboard and harmonica riffs, Victor Wooten's two handed banjo rolls on the bass, and Future Man's drumitar wizardry. Ultimately, a band of this type will stand or fall on the strength of its playing (always impeccable here and elsewhere) as well as by the quality of its material. It is in this department that UFO Tofu stands as a marked improvement over earlier Flecktones platters. The lyrical "Bonnie and Slide" marks Béla's recorded debut on slide banjo, and is dedicated to Bonnie Raitt, who gave him a slide during their joint tour. The other Flecktones contribute memorable melodies as well: Howard Levy and Manfredo Fest's "Saresta" is a smooth Latin ballad, whereas Victor Wooten's "Sex in a Pan" is syncopated and slinky. The title tune, which consists of musically palindromous passages that are the same if played forwards or backwards, was certainly a challenge to compose and perform, but comes off mainly as a novelty. The title of "The Yee-haw Factor" may not endear Fleck to his former audience, but it does contain the closest to any Scruggs rolls you'll hear on this disc, along with some great tin whistle playing by Levy. The Flecktones are undoubtedly getting better at composing and performing their unique music. Still, despite the flexibility and virtuosity of all involved, one can't help but wonder how long they can continue to mine this particular vein before running out of creative steam. Worries about the future aside, UFO Tofu remains an enjoyable confection for the present.

Mike Parrish (Chicago, IL) - February 1, 1993
Dirty Linen



With the release of their third album, UFO TOFU, Bela (rhymes with Layla) Fleck & The Flecktones, have hit their stride. Their special brand of musical interplay draws on jazz, funk, classical, bluegrass, rock and electronic music and is performed with the odd combination of banjo, keyboards, harmonica, bass and a unique electronic percussion instrument called the drumitar, each played with the intensity and sensitivity of virtuosos. Acknowledging that with all the technology utilized the music can lose some of it's warmth and accessibility, they've consciously taken steps to give it a more "human" feel by recording live in the studio and mixing it analog. In tandem with tunes more melodic and groove-oriented than those found on their last LP, Fleck & The Flecktones have overwhelmingly succeeded. Besides being a verbal palindrome (read the same backward and forward), the title track is a musical palindrome, in which the musical phrases are played backward and forward with enjoyable results. Also best listened to forward: "Sex In A Pan," "The Yee-haw Factor" and "Bonnie & Slyde."

Jim Caligiuri: CMJ New Music Report Issue: 299 - Aug 28, 1992
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