At 7:30 tonight, classical bassist Edgar Meyer and banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck will play an acoustic show at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Fleck, best known for his work with his jazz-fusion group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, has had a long, varied career. Through his early work with New Grass Revival to his more experimental work with the Flecktones, Fleck has carved a place for himself in the banjo scene.

Though he may be less familiar to rock fans, Meyer's achievements in the field of music are no less impressive than Fleck's. As much a style chameleon as his touring partner, he is as well known for his solo interpretations of Bach pieces as he is for his contributions to the recordings of such country icons as Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett. He is a recent recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, a $500,000 grant.

The two have collaborated before, both onstage and on record. Fleck's Grammy-winning Perpetual Motion features significant contributions by Meyer, and in turn, Fleck guested on Meyer's Uncommon Ritual LP.

Laura Sullivan, spokeswoman for the Center for the Performing Arts, expressed her enthusiasm for tonight's performers.

"Both Béla and Edgar are incredible musicians and composers," Sullivan said. "They've been collaborating together on many projects, but their current work is more classical in nature."

Though the duo's new record leans toward the classical genre, Sullivan said that's not all concertgoers can expect.

"They'll be working with material mostly off Béla's CD [Perpetual Motion]," Sullivan said. "It should be a combination of classical pieces, original works and maybe even a Flecktones song."

Sullivan explained Fleck's broad appeal for students and faculty alike.

"I think everyone is getting excited about the show," Sullivan said. "Béla's music really crosses generations. He plays in all kinds of different genres, and he just can't be categorized. He has a real strong following with the students."

Greg Gabbard, owner of City Lights Records, 316 E. College, commented on Fleck's proficiency on his instrument.

"All you have to do is listen to him once to understand what a talented musician he is," Gabbard said.

Fleck fan Eric Brune (freshman-accounting) said he agrees with Gabbard's statement.

"He's an incredibly talented musician," Brune said. "He can go from playing a more jazz-influenced style with the Flecktones to playing classical with someone like Edgar Meyer without missing a beat."

Though Brune will be attending tonight's concert, he said he prefers Fleck's jazzier music to his more classical leanings.

"I really enjoy all his music, but the energy the Flecktones exude in concert and on record is oftentimes more enjoyable than his classical works," he said.

Concertgoers can also attend a short Artistic Viewpoints discussion with both Fleck and Meyer starting at 6:30 p.m. The event is free to ticket-holders, but space for the talk is limited.