This one caught me by surprise. A brother and sister team? The vocalist a French actress? It didn’t look promising, but if you want something a little bit different in your mellow jazz catalogue, give this one a try. Irene Jacobs has an alluringly soft and precious voice, while her guitar playing brother, along with Mathieu Verlot/b, Jose Ballumbrosia/perc and a conglomeration of guests that vary from flute, steel drums, talking drums and harmonica provide intimate and thoughtful arrangements of originals. There is an ethereal attraction to pieces like the title track, which mixes musical cultures like spinning globe. Genres like swing, chanson, folk and afro pop glide in and out of the songs, making this as bohemian as Madeleine Peyroux’s debut disc. This has the similar feel of suave experimentation without presumption or ostentation, with a clear sense of inquisitive musicality. Romantic, yes,the mood is all throughout, as on “Jihad et Cruzada” and the dreamlike “Sumatra.” I have no knowledge of the French language, but volumes is relayed here without a cognitive word.
Sunnyside Records
www.sunnyside.com