Jayme Stone

"Powerfully polished" is the term that immediately comes to mind upon listening to Jayme Stone's latest body of work. The two-time Juno-winning composer and banjo virtuoso immediately dispels hackneyed connotations of what banjo music represents. Call it musical fusion — a bit of folk, chamber and jazz here, a splash of West African melodies there — what The Other Side of the Air represents is an intriguing, aurally satisfying endeavour steeped in symphonic sensibilities. Bringing along commodities like Rob Mosher (soprano saxophone) and Kevin Turcotte (trumpet) for the journey, the album dips into the West Africa-influenced "Radio Wassoulou," covers a country standard ("Tennessee Waltz") and traverses original material ("This County Is My Home: Movements One-Three"). Drawing from such progressive and musically Diasporic elements, The Other Side of the Air is sonically enriching. Most of all, it serves notice that the bluegrass banjo has always deserved its place at the orchestral table.