Jayme Stone • Polyrhythmic Banjo and Beyond August 22, 2010

Jayme Stone keeps an ear to the ground. His curiosity and unlikely set of reference points started early with the quirky physics of the banjo, which led to long-lasting lessons with a series of maestros, from Béla Fleck to Bill Frisell. Influenced by Japanese poetry and Brazilian literature and featuring what he calls a “tiny symphony that takes place inside an imaginary light bulb”, Stone’s album, The Utmost, won the 2008 Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year.

The most recent chapter in Stone’s musical travelogue takes place in Africa. He went knowing what’s still news to most: that the hide-covered instrument with an “extra” drone string we call the banjo actually comes from West Africa. An eight-week trip to Mali was supported by a prestigious Chalmers Arts Fellowship and found Stone sitting in with Toumani Diabate and the Symmetric Orchestra in downtown Bamako, lost in circles of Wassoulou polyrhythms and in a rural Dogon village with no electricity where he inadvertently discovered a banjo predecessor unheard of in the West. The resulting album, Africa to Appalachia, is a boundary-crossing musical collaboration with singer and kora maestro Mansa Sissoko. Produced by David Travers-Smith and featuring celebrated ngoni master Bassekou Kouyate, the recording won the 2009 Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year.
http://www.jaymestone.com

The weekends bring an incredible variety of themed concerts and entertainment to Downtown Redwood City, showcasing musical talent from around the world. Starting on July 17th with Flamenco and Jazz-Infused Latin Guitarist Raul Midón, you can revel in the discovery of a different unique culture through its music and movement at three very special events: July 17th, August 22nd, and September 18th.

Along with our Featured Cultural Performances, other exciting FREE events include: Jazz on Main on Mondays, Dancing on the Square on Tuesdays, Movies on the Square on Thursdays, and Music on the Square on Fridays. Other ongoing events in the coming months include seven special outdoor exhibits featuring Art on the Square, Monday and Wednesday afternoon performances with Lunchtime on the Square, as well as Sunday Target Family Days.

Full details at http://www.redwoodcityevents.com

Official Website: http://www.redwoodcity.org/events/cultural_performances.html