Spotlight: Bela Fleck with Brooklyn Rider at the Minnesota Zoo

Thursday: Ever-adventurous banjo god Fleck (pictured at center) is always willing to challenge himself and his collaborators, as he has done in Twin Cities gigs with the Marcus Roberts Trio, versatile bassist Edgar Meyer and jazz piano giant Chick Corea. Now he's experimenting with a new cast of characters — Brooklyn Rider, the widely acclaimed string quartet with Minnesota roots. Violist Nicholas Cords was born in White Bear Lake, and two other members — brothers Colin (violin) and Eric Jacobsen (cello) — had a grandmother who lived in Stillwater. The Brooklyn-based, NPR-loved chamber group, who have played everything from Beethoven to Brazilian folk, joined Fleck last year on "Night Flight Over Water," a complex, compelling piece on his classical-leaning album "The Impostor." (7:30 p.m. Thu. $42 & $54.50. Weesner Amphitheater, Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley. 952-431-9500. www.etix.com)