Old Brooklyn

has tended to compartmentalize his two instruments and two performing styles, on the one hand, a bluegrass mandolin player, on the other, a klezmer clarinetist, even to the point, for instance, of simultaneously issuing albums in each mode, as he did in 2006 with and , respectively. On 2011's , he endeavors to mix his approaches and give full rein to his talents; not surprisingly, it takes him two CDs and more than 90 minutes to do it. Among the 25 tracks can be found a lyrical unaccompanied clarinet performance ("Life Cycles") as well as a bluegrass number in the manner of , albeit with drums ("Long Journey Home"). In between, it's possible to hear just about everything in between. On various tunes, employs some traditional bluegrass players, notably fiddler , banjoist , and banjo and fiddle player , as well as horn men , and even on his various keyboards. Early on, notably on the opening title song and "Totally Steaming," the musicians cross the border from klezmer to -style free jazz. They also bring in early rock & roll and blues on occasion ("Bourbon in Jackson Hole," "21st Century Chicken Shack Back Blues"). And there's even a gospel spiritual, "The Lord Will Provide," with a vocal by that is basically a cappella, although the singing interweaves with 's clarinet soloing. Much of the time, however, the disc goes back and forth between the leader's big loves, presenting bluegrass on one track led by mandolin, followed by klezmer on the next, as the clarinet returns. What ties it all together is 's virtuosity on his instruments, virtuosity that is often matched by a talented and adventurous batch of backup musicians. ~ William Ruhlmann