The Other Side of the Air (Jayme Stone JS400, 2013)
Canadian banjo player Jayme Stone departs from his world music explorations and ventures into the world of classical music on his latest albumThe Other Side of the Air .
The album was inspired by an atlas of remote islands he found in his favorite bookstore. “I saw this book, and my imagination caught on fire,” Stone recalls. “I could already hear music and thought I might write a whole body of work about these islands.”
In addition to the classical elements, The Other Side of the Air incorporates West African, American roots music and some jazz improvisation. The arrangements, however, feature a chamber atmosphere with musical instruments from the world of classical music so don’t expect ngonis or talking drums in the West African-inspired pieces.
The lineup on the album includes Jayme Stone (banjo), Rob Mosher (woodwinds), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Andrew Downing (cello, bass), Joe Phillips (bass), Nick Fraser (drums, percussion), Aleksandar Gajic (violin), Aline Homzy (violin), Kathleen Kajioka (viola), Amy Laing (cello), Anne Thompson (flute), Clare Scholtz (oboe), Peter Lutek (bassoon), William Carn (trombone) and David Quackenbush (French horn).
“These are my people,” Stone exclaims, “who are each brilliant composers and improvisers in their own right. There’s a deep sense of listening, camaraderie and understanding in the way we make music together. We can pass a wide range of references back and forth, through the air.”
On The Other Side of the Air Jayme Stone presents an impeccable performance of banjo in the context of a classical music ensemble.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
