Pete Wernick has never been known for staying between the lines. And he colors his grass any color he likes. What The showcases Dr. Banjo’s ability to take the banjo into uncharted territories. This is illustrated metaphorically on the CD cover. The banjo is depicted as a UFO flying through the air. The music on this project is not traditional by any means. It is intriguing and innovative as you might expect. In addition to his banjo, he has brought in some other non-traditional instruments. The inclusion of Pete Pontarelli on clarinet and Greg Harris on vibraphone contributes to the blending of styles. You can hear definite elements of jazz, blues, and swing throughout these cuts. Joan Wernick offers up some tasty vocals, especially on the opening cut Blue Train. Pete also makes use of his trademark "phase-shifted" banjo here – most evident on The Highest Place.   BMP