With the beautiful backdrop of the western mountains and the magnificent  Biltmore Estate, this Virginia based band rolled out new music from their latest release called Rocket Sciencefor a fun filled set.  The evening featured a new lineup that had the group back to its original quartet. Bela’s banjo was intense as they launched in to the opener from the new disc called “Gravity Lane.” Howard Levy’s harmonica was a nice added part and added a new dimension to the band along with his piano. Victor Wooten and Futureman kept it tight for a jazzy send off. They went right into “Blu-Bop” from Flight of the Cosmic Hippo. It’s always a fun one to hear live. After some introductions, the band tore off three new ones as they introduce the crowd to the new music. “Prickley Pear” featured more of Levy’s harmonica and even featured a little keyboard from the bands good friend, Bruce Hornsby. Bela changed banjos again introduced another new one named for a local resort called “Wolf Laurel.” It featured Victor on his bass and was a little more laid back in its over all delivery. Bela’s banjo was more acoustic here and was highlighted with the harmonica once more. They kicked it up a notch for one of the tightest numbers of the evening on “Life In Eleven” You don’t think of a band like this being a jazz band, but one listen to this one gives you all the licks and syncopation of anyone you’ve heard. I liked this one a lot.

“Sunset Road” was a good one to hear at the Estate as they launched into two more new ones called “Sweet Pomegranates” that featured more of Levy’s piano and some great work from Futureman. They followed that up with “Falani”  before closing with the always popular “Sinister Minister” from their 1990 release.

It really is amazing to see four talented musicians perform as this group does. The music is always tight and together. Bela continues to break boundaries with his ever developing style that no one has been able to put a label on. The mix of bluegrass, jazz, funk and fusion was on full display here tonight, in one of the most beautiful setting you will ever find. It was great to hear the new songs as well as the new band line up.