Béla Fleck has taken the banjo more places than any popular musician, visiting jazz, bluegrass, classical and pop along the way.
The nine-time Grammy winner was nominated for two more statuettes for his latest album, “The Hidden Land,” a relatively modest outing following 2004’s sprawling “Little Worlds.” We caught up with Fleck in advance of his Saturday Paramount Theatre appearance with longtime band the Flecktones.
Q: Do you have any sense of anticipation over this year’s Grammys, considering how many you’ve won?
A: I really do think it’s unbelievable to get nominated, even though that sounds like the party line. I don’t overvalue the Grammy itself but I do appreciate that somebody likes you.
Q: So you feel it’s more symbolic than anything else?
A: It’s not about the actual project at hand but a bellwether of how you’re perceived in the industry. In a way it’s a popularity contest. I’d be surprised if 1 percent of the voters listened to “The Hidden Land.”
Q: You’re 48 and have been playing banjo for about 32 years. How do you keep the instrument fresh?
A: I get off on trying new things. If I’m constantly putting a project in front of me that takes a lot of effort, I feel like I’m making progress. Just last month I did a duet album with Chick Corea, which is coming out in May.
Q: You also recently visited Africa to film a documentary about the banjo’s origins. How did that go?
A: On a personal level it’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. I have two or three records’ worth of great material from it.
Q: Did any of the people you recorded with in the field know you?
A: No, I was just some guy. But they liked it, and I think they got off on it. When they heard the final version of the songs, you can see in the film that they light up.
Q: You put the Flecktones together 19 years ago for a PBS special. Did you ever dream you’d still be playing with them?
A: I had no idea. The guys are really my audience when I’m on stage with them. I want to play something they’ve never heard before, and once you do that it’s sort of like a friendly game of tennis. As long as somebody raises the bar you keep it going.
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones play Saturday at the Paramount Theatre. $31.50-$41.50, Ticketmaster.
