We’re living in the midst of a banjo revolution. Following the trail blazed by Béla Fleck, musicians like Brandon Seabrook, Cynthia Sayer and Jayme Stone are exploring a variety of musical terrain with different types of banjo, carrying the instrument far from the bluegrass context. Stone, who hails from Toronto, incorporates elements of classical, jazz, folk, Americana and Indian music on his fantastic new album, The Other Side Of The Air. The influence of African music is prevalent on “Radio Wassoulou” and “Soundiata,” both of which were inspired by Stone’s travels in Mali. An imaginary journey across borders inspired “The Cinnamon Route”: Stone was thinking about ancient spice traders as he composed the song, which features the clever interplay of his banjo and Kevin Turcotte’s trumpet. The second half of the album includes composer Andrew Downing’s This County Is My Home (a concerto for banjo and chamber symphony that was commissioned by the Home County Music & Art Festival in Ontario). Downing’s piece—which includes strings, woodwinds and brass instruments—features intriguing parts composed for the banjo, but rather than highlight the instrument, this three-movement concerto weaves it into a broader sonic fabric. Stone concludes the album with a slow, almost mournful version of “Tennessee Waltz.” Choosing to interpret this standard could be viewed as an acknowledgment of the banjo’s role in the history of country music—the song was a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Country chart six times between 1948 and 1980—but Stone’s powerful version doesn’t feature typical twang.