On Banjo

Acclaimed as the only female five-string banjoist in the American Banjo Hall of Fame, Alison Brown gives full flower to her instrumental acumen and compositional imagination on On Banjo. As a purely instrumental project, On Banjo deviates from Brown's previous albums, which usually feature vocalists. Conceptually, the album's ten tracks represent the Compass Records co-founder's worldly musical interests, particularly of the Latin-tinged variety. Expressly written for Israeli jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen, ‘Choro ‘Nuff’ moves with the signature syncopated drive of Brazilian choro. Likewise, ‘BanJobim’ (an obvious nod to legendary Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim) swings with authentic bossa nova groove distinguished by Brown's banjola, a hybrid, five-stringed, all-wood instrument, which imparts to the song an especially silky bottom tone. ‘Regalito’ resounds with sparkling brilliance thanks to the simpatico understanding between classical guitarist Sharon Isbin and Brown on low-tuned banjo. With waltz-like elegance conjured by an unlikely arrangement for banjo and string quartet, on ‘Porches’ Brown and Kronos Quartet succeed in evoking what the banjoist describes as “the imagined ease and rustic elegance of a late 19th-century American soirée.” On the more conventional bluegrass side of things on On Banjo, Brown pairs up with Steve Martin, Sierra Hull and Stuart Duncan.