thank you so much for joining us this evening.
we hope you enjoy
an evening with Béla fleck & the atlanta symphony orchestra
Welcome! My name is Joe Alterman and I’m the Executive Director of Neranenah. We’re thrilled that you’re here for tonight’s show. Let me take a moment to introduce (or reintroduce) you to Neranenah. As a touring jazz pianist with a life-long fascination with Jewish contributions to music, becoming Executive Director of this organization (which was called the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival until 2020) created another fascination for me: the confusion surrounding defining the term “Jewish music.” After much thought, research and receiving 300 different answers from 300 different people when asked “What Is Jewish Music?”, I came to believe that the Jewishness of music comes not necessarily from a melody, but a story. As legendary musician Wynton Marsalis told me when I mentioned the question to him, “Jewish Music…fascinating. Not really a thing, but all over American music.” Exactly.
So, as our offerings shifted from the difficult to define “Jewish Music” towards “Jewish Contributions to Music,” our name didn’t exactly match what we do. We needed a name that better reflected the inclusivity of our programming, allowing us to present all sorts of Jewish cultural arts programming (not only music, but comedy, spoken word, panels and conversations as well) and attract a broader audience. And we found it with “Neranenah.”
You may recognize the term from the Jewish song of celebration, “Hava Nagila,” and it means, in Hebrew, “let's come together and sing,” which is what we’re all about. We honor tradition, but are far from traditional. Our minds and ears are open; the fingerprints of Jewish culture can be found all around us. We seek not to define Jewish arts and culture, but to embrace its diversity, subjectiveness, and personal nature to create a space open and inviting to all. Welcome!
We hope you enjoy the show!
Joe Alterman
ABOUT THE SHOW
For over four decades, Béla Fleck has redefined the possibilities of the banjo, earning 18 Grammy Awards across an astonishing range of genres, including Country, Pop, Jazz, Instrumental, Classical, and World Music. His newest project is no exception—both a bold departure and a loving tribute—expanding and exploring George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in a way that honors the legendary composer while reimagining an American classic.
With its original premiere in 1924, Rhapsody in Blue is a landmark of American music, blending jazz and classical influences to create a sound that is both sophisticated and exhilarating. Gershwin's masterpiece has been interpreted by countless musicians, but never before on the banjo—until now. With his deep respect for tradition and fearless innovation, Fleck brings new textures and perspectives to the piece, proving once again that the banjo can thrive in any musical landscape. The album, released on February 12, 2024, marking the work’s centennial, earned Fleck a Grammy nomination and was debuted at Carnegie Hall with an orchestra in May. Now, the inspiring performance comes to Atlanta.
Widely regarded as the world’s premier banjo player, who also happens to be a Jewish kid from the Upper Westside of Manhattan, Fleck has revolutionized the instrument’s sound and image through an extraordinary performing and recording career. Whether leading the groundbreaking Béla Fleck and The Flecktones, composing banjo concertos for full symphony orchestras, or tracing the instrument’s African roots in the award-winning documentary Throw Down Your Heart, Fleck’s musical journey knows no
boundaries. As The New York Times’ Jon Pareles put it, “That’s a lot of territory for five strings.”
His collaborators span genres and generations, from Abigail Washburn and Chris Thile to McCoy Tyner, Zakir Hussain, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. His Grammy-winning My Bluegrass Heart pays tribute to his friend and mentor Chick Corea (My Spanish Heart), with whom he recorded three acclaimed duo albums, including their final collaboration, Remembrance (2024).
One thing about Fleck remains constant: his boundless curiosity and passion for pushing musical frontiers.