Lumiere - Bob Brozman

The Bob Brozman Orchestra is both a misnomer and the absolute truth, since the "orchestra" is made up of Brozman himself, multi-track on a multiplicity of plucked and percussion instruments. Anyone familiar with his playing knows he's a whiz in all manner of styles from around the globe, and he illustrates that perfectly here, on compositions that allow a lot of improvisation -- no mean feat when you consider the number of instruments here. In many ways, this is a culmination of all he's done before, bringing together the strands of his previous work, whether it's the Indian Ocean influence so evident on "N'Oubliez Pas La Reunion," the gorgeous ghazal of "Chaturangui Gazal," or the eerie Eastern lullaby of "Yaeyama Okinawa." The sheer variety of styles here is staggering, with Brozman masterful in them all. But, in typical fashion, everything comes with a slight twist. His ska, "Ska Waltz Train" is in 3/4 time, while the opening cut, "Lumiere de La Mer," brings together a mishmash of island styles that seem to blend perfectly. It's a masterwork, from someone who knows his stuff, and the pleasure he takes in his playing is palpable. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide