Violinist Ben Sutin bridges the link between the gypsy feel of Stephane Grappelli with modern post bop ideas on this enchantingly swinging session. He’s teamed with Ben Rosenblum, who provides both bopping piano and bohemian accordion, along with bassist Chris Tordini and drummer Johnathan Blake on this flavorful mix of ideas.
Sutin and Rosenblum’s accordion make for a dramatic plunge on “Reflections” before Tordini glides the team into a graceful cadence, while a peppy “The Yearning” bounces with Left Bank delight. Sutin’s tone is joyful and vocal, soaring on “No Holds Barred” and glorious on the adventurous title track where he glides around the traffic like a Neoploitan pedestrian working through Via Nazionale. Likewise, an impressionist “Equilbrium” coalesces into a bohemian climax, with “Arrival” driven to a cascading climax with Blake’s crisp sticks. Accessible adventures from the caravan.