Danny Barker and Bela Fleck are the opposite ends of the jazz banjo timeline. Barker is a survivor from the banjo's first heyday, before the advent of the electric guitar; Bela has been credited with taking it to new levels, and introducing a whole new generation to the instrument.

Recently, both banjoists spoke with OffBeat: Bela, by telephone from the West Coast, two days after he performed on "The Tonight Show"; Barker, from the porch of his house a couple of blocks off St....