LUCIAN BAN
Enescu Reimagined
(Sunnyside)
****

Romanian jazz can swing like the clappers one minute and break your heart the next. Inspired by late composer George Enescu, this East-meets-West suite by pianist Ban and bassist John Hebert adds violin and viola to the usual jazz mix. Their Mingus-like arrangements draw melodious solos from tenorist Tony Malaby and trumpeter Ralph Alessi. And a rhythm section including US bassist Drew Gress and Indian percussion virtuoso Badal Roy is quirkily effective.