If You Love Me

long ago staked his claim as the heir apparent to the late , the undisputed icon of tango music. But the French has never been an imitator and has always sought to push the music beyond what the Argentinean might have considered. As an accordionist, has not only absorbed the essence of but expanded the possible permutations of the instrument within the tango setting, and he's done that by placing it within a jazz context. doesn't so much adhere to a recognizable jazz framework as cherish the art of improvisation endemic to jazz, and on he's achieved the perfect synthesis by teaming with the renowned vibraphonist , with on bass, and with on drums. It might seem, in theory, that the accordion and the vibes would be an oil-and-water mix, but these two virtuosi make it work -- there's a natural flow from one sound to the other and a shared sense of purpose that turns each track into a serene thing of beauty. Much of the program derives from the master's catalog -- five of the ten songs are compositions. But and also take on ( ), (the title track, listed in French as ), and (the classic ) and integrate them so seamlessly that they are easily of a piece with the tunes. The theme from the film , which closes out the set, is melancholy and minimal, hinting at yet another direction this unlikely pair might go should they decide on a sequel. ~ Jeff Tamarkin