Record Reviews

BÉLA FLECK / MARCUS ROBERTS ~ ACROSS THE IMAGINARY DIVIDE ROUNDER 011661914223 (Barcode: 011661914223) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is another banjo / Jazz piano album by the undeniable king of banjo Béla FleckFind albums by this artist and the excellent Jazz pianist / composer Marcus RobertsFind albums by this artist. However, there are quite a few differences between this recording and the meeting between Fleck and pianist Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, which resulted in "The EnchantmentFind albums with this title" album recorded five years earlier. The meeting with Corea was a duo recording, whereas here Flack plays with the Marcus Roberts trio, with bassist Rodney JordanFind albums by this artist and drummer Jason MarsalisFind albums by this artist. The album includes twelve original instrumental pieces, five of which were composed by Fleck, six by Roberts and one is co-composed by both of them. The music is difficult to characterize, as it is definitely neither Jazz nor Bluegrass, although of course it has touches of both. The presence of a piano trio naturally has strong Jazz connotations, but those remain only in the background. Overall this album lacks the excitement and spark present on the Corea / Fleck recording, but of course considering the incredible level of talent involved it certainly has its moments. It is quite possible that the musicians intended to achieve exactly this vaudeville / early 20th Century entertainment feel, which somehow is being transmitted herein. Excellently played it nevertheless remains pure entertainment never actually crossing the thin line dividing entertainment and art. But it is definitely first rate entertainment, which many people will surely enjoy immensely.

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