Bela Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio: Across the Imaginary Divide (2012)

When long time Marcus Roberts fan and banjo virtuoso, Béla Fleck stayed late at a Savannah Music Festival jam session just to hear Roberts play, the last thing he expected was to be up on stage performing with him and his band but "it seemed to work instantly. Marcus seemed to really like it. And the 20 or so people at the jam session seemed to think that something very special had just occurred."
A year later they had agreed to perform together for the first time at the same festival in Savannah. "We threw together a set of music, and played it for a packed and intrigued crowd. The gig was honestly amazing. There was a natural rapport between Marcus and me from the first note, and Jason Marsalis (on drums) and Rodney Jordan (on bass) were just incredible. I loved their trio conception, and was thrilled to be able to find a way to exist within it," said Fleck.
The Marcus Roberts Trio is known for its virtuosic style – a style that is strongly rhythmic, melodic, and filled with dynamic contrast. The group was founded in 1995, and they are known around the world for their signature trio style. Béla Fleck is often considered the premier banjo player in the world. He has virtually reinvented the image and the sound of the banjo through a remarkable performing and recording career that has taken him all over the musical map and on a range of solo projects and collaborations.

"It was a lot of fun working with Béla on this project. He has a limitless imagination and, like our trio, he is willing to do whatever it takes to make a great record. The recording brings our two styles together in a way that I think will be really enjoyable for the listeners," said Roberts.
Across The Imaginary Divide, out June 5 on Rounder, was produced by Béla Fleck and Marcus Roberts.

Tracklist:

01. Some Roads Lead Home
02. I'm Gonna Tell You This Story One More Time
03. Across the Imaginary Divide
04. Let Me Show You What To Do
05. Petunia
06. Topaika
07. One Blue Truth
08. Let's Go
09. Kalimba
10. The Sunshine and the Moonlight
11. That Old Thing
12. That Ragtime Feeling

Personnel:

Bela Fleck (banjo)
Marcus Roberts (piano)
Rodney Jordan (bass)
Jason Marsalis (drums)

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Brian Bromberg: Compared to That (2012)

Brian Bromberg is one of the top five bassists worldwide. The GRAMMY nominated bass player grew up in a world of jazz. He already performed in early years with area jazz bands and symphonies. Although some of his twenty solo albums are settled in the smooth jazz realm, his musical love was always devoted to straight ahead jazz. "I still love playing with straight-ahead jazz artists and I want to do more acoustic, mainstream jazz albums myself.”

Brian's new album Compared To That is such a mainstream jazz album, which also respects the desire for smooth jazz elements. The album was recorded live in between two days. Recording artists were beside Brian Alex Acuna, Gannin Arnold, Charlie Bisharat, Randy Brecker, Vinnie Colaiuta, George Duke, Bela Fleck, Mitch Forman, Larry Goldings, Jeff Lorber, Gary Meek and Tom Zink.

Fast paced, horn driven, bass loaded, that is the introducing Compared To That. Bromberg excels on Upright bass with impressive dexterity. Jeff Lorber brings with his signature piano virtuosity the piece to breathtaking highs.

With Rory Lowery, Private Eye Brian leans more to straight ahead jazz with a big dose of velocity. Swiftness is always a part of artistry and has its effect on the audience. If Ray Brown Was A Cowboy? is dedicated to the late Ray Brown, an outstanding bassist and recipient of innumerable awards. Brian performed this piece on acoustic bass at the Inn at Reading as part of the Berks Jazz Fest.

On Hayride Bromberg meets banjo great Bela Fleck and violin legend Charlie Bisharat. With all three the tune catches fire and the string arrangement delivers a tight emotional atmosphere. A Little New Old School presents the complete palette of sexy horns including Randy Brecker on trumpet and Gary Meek on tenor sax powered by a mighty horn section of five further prolific brass players. Jeff Lorber adds some dirty gritty atonal tones on keys, while Brian plays various infectious grooves on slap bass with greetings to Victor Wooten and Stanley Clarke.

Forgiveness is a well-respected social and religious behavior. Bromberg elected this great word for a melodic and melancholic acoustic piece with a high emotional aspect. Chicago's Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? gets a new swing with a excellent balance of pop and jazz. I'm Just Sayin' loves it straight and jazzy featuring Randy Brecker on muted trumpet. The tune has enough length to allow all musicians to expand on various soli.

The jazz fusion piece Eclipse showcases George Duke on piano and Brecker on flugelhorn. Bromberg describes the song as the darkest tune spiritually and stylistically as a New York jazz sound. Rick James' R&B song Give It To Me Baby finds a jazzy finish by mastermind Bromberg. Finally to mention is Gannin Arnold's superb guitar performance on those part of the album, which aren't played by Brian on piccolo bass.

With Compared to That Bromberg succeeds in recording an evenhanded mixture of pop and jazz, that will actually excite jazz purists.

Tracklist:

01. Compared To That [8:26]
02. Rory Lowery, Private Eye [9:54]
03. If Ray Brown Was A Cowboy? [6:36]
04. Hayride [7:30]
05. A Little New Old School [7:19]
06. Forgiveness [5:19]
07. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? [4:52]
08. I'm Just Sayin' [7:42]
09. The Eclipse [8:59]
10. Give It To Me Baby [4:19]

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Béla Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions, Vol. 2 (2010)

The follow-up album to the 2 time Grammy winning album ‘Throw Down Your Heart‘. ‘Africa Sessions: Part 2‘ marks the first release through Béla Fleck’s own label, Acoustic Planet. “This is a labor of love for me,” adds Béla. “I’m so glad to be getting this music out there and providing the opportunity for you to hear these magnificent musicians.”
The expanded musical travelogue includes collaborations in the Malian desert with guitarist Afel Bocoum, a spontaneous hotel recording with bowed lyrist Albert Bisaso Ssempeke, Jr., thumb pianist Haruna Walisimbe (“a wonderful spirit”), an old fiddle tune (“The Rights of Man”) melded with the Haruna Samake Trio, and traditional Malian music with tour mate Bassekou Kouyate. Béla Fleck also joined the Muwewesu Xylophone Group (“I didn’t know what beat I was on, but I didn’t care”), blind thumb pianist Anania Ngoliga, Malian star Oumou Sangare, guitarists Djelimady Tounkara and D’Gary, the Jatta Family, and met up with akonting player Jesus Jah Jarju in an abandoned nightclub in the Gambia.
Tracklist:

1. Spirit Song 4:27
2. Salam Aleikum 4:43
3. Chant 4:26
4. The Rights of Man / Ya Fama 6:09
5. Kamungoro 2:31
6. Kandjo 5:51 
7. Obughangwa 4:09
8. Soumauro 3:48
9. Furaha 4:30
10. Mar Rano 5:43 
11. Jesus of Banjul 4:25
12. Mali Jam 5:18 
13. Kayi Ni Wura 5:48
14. Old Joe Jatta 6:03
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