6. June 2026
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Media Review

Renee Fleming & Bela Fleck – The Fiddle and the Drum

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Renee Fleming & Bela Fleck - The Fiddle and the Drum

Renee Fleming & Bela Fleck - The Fiddle and the Drum
4

Rating

 4.0/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very intense cover songs
  • Lovely vocal and instrumental performance

Combined, Renee Fleming and Bela Fleck have received 24 Grammy Awards. On 29th May 2026, they released the album The Fiddle And The Drum. Together, they praise the bluegrass and folk music of the Appalachian Mountain Region. As, on top of that, the album comes with some very interesting guest musicians, I just had to have a listen.

 

Renee Fleming – About The Artist

Renee Fleming, born on 14th February 1959 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is an US American soprano and actress. She recorded music for several occasions, from theater and film to opera stages. Especially on the opera side, she is having a stunning career, performing in numerous languages. Her popularity is also reflected by the fun fact that an asteroid, 31249 Reneefleming, was named in her honor in 2018.

 

Bela Fleck – About The Artist

Bela Fleck is an US American banjo player, who majorly works in jazz and bluegrass. He won 18 Grammy Awards out of 41 nominations and is a 2020 inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Fleck was born on 10th July 1958 in New York City. Two of the bands is playing with is Bela Fleck and the Flecktones as well as the Sparrow Quartet. Furthermore, he is a former member of New Grass Revival.

 

Renee Fleming & Bela Fleck – The Fiddle and the Drum – Track by Track

The ten song album lasts 42 minutes.

1. He’s Gone Away / Storms Are on the Ocean

The opener mixes a folk traditional with the 1988 The Carter Family song. There are are bluegrass vibes in the song, but the song rather feels like a classical song with a touch of jazz now. Fleck’s banjo gives a fine touch – the key instrument is the fiddle, though. With a duration of over six minutes, it is also the longest track of the album.

2. In The Pines (feat. Dolly Parton)

In the Pines has been one of two songs which the duo has released before the album already. The song dates back into the 19th century. With nobody but the female country legend herself, Dolly Parton, joining this re-interpretation, the song just has to work out.

3. The Fiddle and the Drum (feat. Jerry Douglas)

In his career, the Ohio origin Jerry Douglas has gained a lot of reputation, as a guitar and dobro player as well as a solo artist. The cover version of Joni Mitchell’s 1969 song has a fine and very fragile touch. The song takes some time to showcase the instrumental excellence of the musicians involved.

4. My Epitaph

My Epitah is a song originally written by Ola Belle Reed. In this updated version, the bluegrass vibes become very obvious. Fleck has sufficient opportunity showcasing his instrumental skill, while Fleming’s vocal qualities are not doubted as well. The song has a nice change between slower and faster passager, leading to a very versatile listen.

5. The Scarlet Tide (feat. Vince Gill)

Another big name of country music joined the duo for the fifth song. Vince Gill is the guest musician for The Scarlett Tide. The 2003 original is by Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett. In the The Fiddle and the Drum version, it seamlessly fits into the context of the album. A really nice listen.

6. The Cuckoo (feat. Jerry Douglas)

Jerry Douglas is back for the sixth song, The Cuckoo. The song has British roots, but also became popular in other parts of Europe and North America. With almost five minutes, it is another epic and dramatic listen. The instrumental parts strike in here, especially in the fast passages.

7. Blackest Crow (feat. Aoife O’Donova)

Aoife O’Donova is the lead singer of the progressive bluegrass band Crooked Still. The initial focus is on Renee Fleming and her voice. However, as soon as the other artists and musician are joining in, the song turns into a surprisingly playful experience.

8. Scarlet Ribbons

There are numerous versions of Scarlett Ribbons, which is a 1949 writer by Evelyn Danzig and Jack Segal. The Browns, Harry Belafonte or Sinead O’Connor, they all did their version of it. Boosted by the slow violin, the song has a rather dark an depressing impact. This also means that it does quite a lot things right and reaches the listener well.

9. He’s gone away (reprise)

The ninth song is an instrumental, which leads to a nice focus on the melodic background of the album. This brief episode of The Fiddle and the Drum solely lasts 109 seconds.

10. Pretty Bird (feat. Sierra Hull & Sarah Jarosz)

Austin singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz (I featuerd her 2024 albums Polaroid Lovers and Wild And Clear And Blue (2025, as part of  I’m With Her) and bluegrass “Wunderkind” Sierra Hull lead to a majestic finale. The two artists allow a lot of depth, especially in the vocal arrangement. Thus, the finale is a strong experience.

 

Renee Fleming & Bela Fleck – The Fiddle and the Drum – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Renee Fleming & Bela Fleck – The Fiddle and the Drum – Track by Track

The Fiddle and the Drum is an intense and nostalgic experience, driven by two excellent musicians. Renee Fleming and Bela Fleck move the predominantly folk songs closer to the bluegrass sphere. I like it, but feel the the voices could even be more present here and there. Nonetheless, the record is a nice praise to traditional North American music.

Favorite Song: Blackest Crow

 

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