Jayme Stone is a banjo player whose music is hard to categorize. In fact, you might say that it has no boundaries. You could say the same thing about his whereabouts.

With a new CD, The Utmost, due for release in May, Jayme is currently in Mali doing research and field recording for another upcoming project of African banjo music, to be produced by Lee Townsend. Jayme received a Chalmers Arts Fellowship grant for his west African trip, and he should be back in his native Canada by the time The Utmost is released.

Stone also has a recently revamped web site, where you can hear audio samples from the new CD and find information on his efforts as a banjo instructor - and some free banjo tabs of both traditional tunes and his own more progressive compositions. Jayme offers private banjo instruction and has an instructional DVD as well.

Jayme shared a few thoughts on The Utmost.

“It’s a gathering of my favorite jazz and bluegrass musicians from both sides of the US/Canadian border including Ross Martin, Matt Flinner and Kevin Turcotte. It’s something of a grand project, featuring 10 musicians in 3 cities and co-produced by David Travers-Smith. I’m in discussion with a record label and it will be released in May, followed by a significant touring in the US and Canada.”

Visit Jayme’s web site to find out about all his various musical endeavors.