PIAZZOLLA
InTime
InTime Quintet
Alba ABCD 110
[57:38]
Crotchet
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Proving the ultimate absurdity of musical divisions, the Argentinean composer
Astor Piazzolla crossed every musical boundary he could find, working in
'classical' and film music, jazz and most famously a field uniquely his own,
developed out of his love of the tango. The InTime Quintet use the same line-up
as Piazzolla's own quintet of the 70's and 80's: violin, piano, guitar, bass
and accordion. In 1994 they won (out of 29 groups), the first Astor Piazzolla
Competition, so one may presume they capture the authentic spirit of the
composer's music. This disc presents 11 tunes and is a vibrant, infectious,
dynamic affair, filled with life and melody, and with some accomplished jazzy
piano from Jari Salmela who plays in the lineage of Keith Jarrett. And if
the name Jari Salmela does not sound especially Argentinean it is because
InTime come from Finland. World music indeed, and tremendous fun. And no,
there is nothing wrong with the reproduction of the album cover here, the
band's faces really are printed in that lurid shade of orange.
Gary S. Dalkin