Artist: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

Renowned for their musical mastery, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones are always on top of critics' and readers' polls. This year, the band garnered the Playboy Readers' Poll award for Best Jazz Group, and Fleck was recognized by both the readers of Jazziz and JazzTimes with a Best Miscellaneous Instrument prize.
Along with wowing critics and winning over audiences, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones have consistently had the respect of their peers. The band has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, and won Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1997 for "The Sinister Minister," a track from Live Art. When it comes to playing live, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones is committed to bringing its music directly to the people, and perform over 200 sold-out shows annually. The band has had opening stints with Sting, Phish and The Dave Matthews Band, and because of a devoted worldwide following, toured South Africa, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Ireland, Singapore and Thailand.