In a 1991 interview with OffBeat, Béla Fleck expressed frustration at being constantly credited with “bringing the banjo to jazz.” While much of the world may be ignorant of the instrument’s long history in the genre, it’s not a problem we have here in New Orleans. Stroll down Frenchmen on a random night and you’re likely to hear that distinctive plunking rhythm behind any number of jazz combos. And one of them might be Orville Lee Floyd III and the Jumbo Shrimp Jazz band. Floyd is one of New Orleans’ most versatile banjo players, and under the alias pLink Floyd he stretches his stylistic legs.

A perusal of the packaging reveals some unusual details. The words “modern fusion banjo” are emblazoned across the cover, while the instrumental credits include such entries as synthesizer and Japanese shamisen.  But despite the curious ingredients, the final product is well rooted in traditional styles. “Fusion” here seems to refer to the ensemble’s no-boundaries approach to American folk and roots music (notwithstanding the syncopated reggae guitar part that underpins “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”).

Nickels & Diamonds is all over the place in an endearing way. Allen Poche’s searing electric guitar solo on “House of the Rising Sun”, coming as it does on the heels of a plunking interlude by Floyd, is sure to make you sit up in your seat, as will Doug Belote’s forceful drum solo on “Caravan”. Tom McDermott contributes Fender Rhodes to the Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere”. And that’s just the beginning of the record’s long cast list.  Floyd has a knack for bringing out the essence of a tune through his briskly plucked chords, and transitions from rapid arpeggiated rolls to plaintive melodic lines with seeming ease.