Search - Lubos Malina :: Piece of Cake

The problem with too many gifted European bluegrass artists is that they are simply too much in awe of the American masters to rise above the level of facile copy bands. Not so with Czech newgrass banjo maestro Lubos Malina, best known as a member of the celebrated Czech Republic bluegrass band Druha Trava. Admittedly there are moments on Piece of Cake, Malina's dazzling, accomplished second solo album, when the ubiquitous influence of American banjo masters Tony Trischka and Bela Fleck shines through a little too brightly. In fact, both Trischka and Fleck, along with Peter Rowan and various other luminaries, make guest appearances on Piece of Cake. Yet Malina masterfully leads his distinguished guests through a range of moods and styles that often collide and intermingle with stark originality. Standouts include the haunting, traditional Kentucky-style bluegrass ballad "Rain and Snow," the newgrass instrumental ruminations of "Remembering," the jazz-grass improv of "Baflo Breakdown," and the Eastern European-flavored "Gejza and Berta," on which Malina is backed by the Gypsy band Tockolotoc. --Bob Allen