Musicians don't get much braver than Radim Zenkl. How many recording artists would dare to release an entire album of spontaneous duets recorded live without overdubs? Mandolinist Zenkl does exactly that on Strings & Wings, which features collaborations with masters such as guitarist Tony Rice, bassist Rob Wasserman, dulcimerist David Schnaufer, banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, and other artists. The off the cuff collaborations work remarkably well and often have the coherence and complexity one expects from pieces that have been rigorously composed and rehearsed. Some of the more unlikely combinations are the most successful, in particular the combinations of Zenkl's mandolin with Miya Masaoka's Japanese koto, Krishna Batt's sitar, and the masterful oud of John Bilezikjian. That said, there isn't a bad track here, and it is a delight to hear all the moods that the Czech mandolinist can wring from his instrument. If you have ever enjoyed the interplay between virtuoso musicians improvising, this album is a must-have item. ~ Richard Foss