Because
Dino Saluzzi
is an Argentine who plays the bandoneon, it is inevitable to compare him to
Astor Piazolla
. This comparison is unfair, however, because if
Saluzzi
is playing tango, it is so abstracted and transformed that we may as well just call it jazz. If a better comparison is sought it would be to another international jazz musician like
Renaud Garcia-Fons
.
On
Rios
,
plays with American bassist
Anthony Cox
and American vibist and arranger
David Friedman
, a musician who's run the gamut from
Yoko Ono
to
Disney
soundtracks. Together they play an assortment of tunes by members of the group, about half of them
's, plus the one cover
"My One and Only Love."
The numbers are thoughtful but not flashy.
Friedman
's
"Penta y Uno"
is largely a deconstruction of bossa nova and tango, featuring percussion as well as vibes.
Cox
"Jad"
uses weird effects from the instruments and the occasional Arabic motif to build up to a subdued bop frenzy. Other tracks are more straight-ahead combinations of the primary instruments.
This is music for the patient and thoughtful listener. Competent but not destined to be a classic. ~ Kurt Keefner