Marcus Roberts Trio

Veteran pianist Marcus Roberts has a solid reputation for masterful playing, but he's never strayed too far from the jazz realm. So, some fans might have been surprised by the record Roberts and his trio churned out this summer; Across the Imaginary Divide partnered Roberts and his guys with Grammy-winning banjo player Béla Fleck.

Fleck's flexibility impressed Roberts when they hooked up for an impromptu jam session during last year's Savannah Music Festival. Despite their different backgrounds, something clicked.

"Béla comes from a strong foundation, and he has a lot of soul and blues in his playing," Roberts says. "The good thing was that we really liked the way he played. Everybody chipped in and played a role… There's a natural flow to it, and the whole project felt nice and spontaneous."

Indeed, there's a relaxed tone throughout Divide. But the musicians switch gears easily from swingy blues beats to fast-paced bebop; most of the collection sounds completely unlike what either artist has ever done before.

"Initially, that was the hardest part of it," Roberts says. "We didn't want it to sound too scholarly or academic, but we didn't want it to sound unrehearsed, either."

Of course, Fleck isn't a typical banjo man. He's worked with traditional styles over the years but has been innovative with each step, redefining his instrument's role in a variety of situations, from classical to funk.

"The most unusual thing about it is that, for someone who's not from the jazz genre, Béla is so dedicated to figuring out what our art form is all about," Roberts says. "He's actually interested in delving into what we do, and, of course, he is already a dedicated and virtuosic musician… with his own vocabulary. That makes it challenging and interesting at the same time."

The unexpected pairing takes the stage this Friday at 8 p.m. as part of UGA's ongoing Spotlight on the Arts Festival.