Fleck the Halls
The holiday season in Cincinnati often feels like a well-worn script. We faithfully visit the Festival of Lights at the zoo. We skate circles around the ice rink on Fountain Square (now on Elm St. Plaza). We endure the same predictable pop carols looping endlessly in every grocery store aisle. This year demands something different. It calls for a musical experience that defies all categorization and logic. Béla Fleck and The Flecktones provide exactly that when they arrive at the Taft Theatre on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
This concert is not a standard festive sing-along. It is a high-wire act of musical virtuosity disguised as a holiday show. The group is bringing their Jingle All The Way tour to town. This show reimagines holiday classics through a lens of jazz, bluegrass, funk, and world music. They call this fusion "Blu-Bop." It transforms familiar songs into complex, improvisational masterpieces that will leave you analyzing your own hands in disbelief.
A Lineup of Legends and Surprise Guests The draw for many fans is the sheer density of talent on stage. Béla Fleck stands as the world’s premier banjo player. He has won more Grammys in more categories than any other instrumentalist in history. His banjo playing sounds less like "Deliverance" and more like a grand piano. Yet he shares the spotlight willingly. Victor Wooten joins him on bass. Wooten is widely considered one of the greatest bassists alive. He plays melody, rhythm, and percussion on his strings simultaneously. You will see him spin his bass around his neck mid-solo without missing a beat.
This tour brings a bittersweet change to the lineup. Founding member Howard Levy is unable to tour due to health issues. However, the band has called in a heavyweight reinforcement. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin, a long-time Flecktone and current member of the Dave Matthews Band, returns to the fold. His saxophone work adds a gritty, funky layer to the holiday tunes. He often plays two saxophones at once. This creates a massive wall of sound that rivals a full horn section.
The Wild Card: Roy "Future Man" Wooten Then there is the element of pure chaos. Roy "Future Man" Wooten plays the Drumitar. This instrument is a guitar-shaped synthesizer of his own invention. It looks like a deformed Stratocaster. It sounds like an entire percussion section. He taps out complex polyrhythms with his fingers rather than sticks. He often appears in pirate-like costumes or eccentric hats. Watching him is a visual paradox. Your eyes see a guitarist. Your ears hear a drummer. It is one of the most unique spectacles in live music.
The Tuvan Connection: A Vocal Miracle The most educational aspect of this show comes from an unexpected guest. The Alash Ensemble will join the band. They are masters of Tuvan throat singing. This ancient technique allows a singer to produce two, three, or even four notes simultaneously. You will hear a low, guttural drone accompanied by a high, whistling melody from the same person. It sounds earthy and haunting. Hearing this Siberian tradition blended with American bluegrass on tracks like the "Jingle All The Way" title song creates a texture you cannot find anywhere else. They also play traditional instruments like the igil. This two-stringed instrument is made from horsehair and wood. It produces a sound that weeps and soars.
Deconstructing the Classics: The Setlist You should not expect a polite recital of "Silent Night." The band deconstructs these songs entirely.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas": This is the show’s centerpiece. They play each of the twelve days in a different key and a different time signature. It is a brilliant musical joke. You will see them counting frantically and laughing as they navigate the shifting rhythms.
"Sleigh Ride": Most versions of this song are jaunty and cute. The Flecktones play it at a "jet-propulsion" tempo. The banjo and saxophone trade lightning-fast licks that sound like an engine revving.
"Silent Night": They slow this track down into a moody, re-harmonized jazz ballad. Victor Wooten often takes the lead here. He uses a hair tie on his bass neck to dampen the strings. This allows him to play bell-like harmonics that ring out through the theatre.
"Linus and Lucy": They pay homage to the Peanuts classic. This is one of the few songs they play relatively straight. It usually turns into a joyful, bouncing audience sing-along.
What to Expect at the Taft The atmosphere at a Flecktones show is unique. The crowd is a mix of jazz aficionados, jam-band dancers, and fellow musicians. The room stays pin-drop silent during the quiet improvisation. It erupts into raucous cheering after every solo.
You should prepare for the venue’s logistics before you go. The Taft Theatre enforces a strict clear bag policy. Your bag must be clear plastic and no larger than 12” x 12” x 6”. Small clutches are allowed if they fit specific dimensions. Security is tight. You should travel light to avoid a long walk back to the car.
Parking is available nearby at the Broadway Garage or the Queen City Square Garage. You should book a spot early using an app like SpotHero. Downtown Cincinnati will be busy on a Saturday night during the holidays. Tickets are currently on sale with prices starting around $60 for the balcony.
Pro Tip: Arrive early. Jeff Coffin and the Alash Ensemble have been known to perform short opening sets before the full band takes the stage. These intimate performances are often the highlight of the night for hardcore fans.
This concert offers more than just entertainment. It is a celebration of musical possibility. It proves that even the oldest, most tired songs can learn new tricks. Cincinnati music lovers should not miss this chance to hear the holidays in a completely new way.