Joyful moods are created by the pen and piano of Ari Erev, as he mixes his core team of Gasper Bertoncelj/dr, Assaf Hakimi/b, Gilad Dobrecky/perc and guests Hadar Noiberg/fl and Yuval Cohen/ss. Noiberg’s flute is cheerful on the pretty “Israel Story” and luscious when teamed with Cohen’s soprano sax on the bluesy “Afar”. Cohen himself adds to the festivities on the joyful “Playground” and the peppy samba of “Falling In Place” with lyricism gliding on “Po”. Erev himself has a buoyant touch, similar to Roger Davidson, displayed on the waltzing “Old Friends” and the warm duet of “Shi’ur Moledet” with Hakimi. His touch is reminiscent of Tom Jobim on the composer’s Olha Maria” while mellow tones are melded with Hakimi’s electronic bass on a clever read of Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years”. Smiles of sound.