Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project: A Thousand Pebbles

Ben Rosenblum's Nebula Project is a group which incorporates sounds from all over the world. Gospel, Brazilian rhythms, European folk dances, and other kinds of music all mix freely with jazz in this exciting and unpredictable set.

The horn players, trumpeter Wayne Tucker and reed players Jasper Dutz and Xavier Del Castillo, all do excellent work in realizing the leader's freewheeling concepts. "Bulgares" has Tucker's trumpet and Dutz's bass clarinet darting out in a whirling Bulgarian rhythm over Rosenblum's accordion. On "Catamaran" a larger blend of horns, guitar and piano sway up and down a wavy melody, like a ship at sea, before giving way to a sprightly accordion jig. A religious feeling emerges elsewhere on the album. "Living Streams" is a stately, gospel-tinged feature for the leader's piano and Rafael Rosa's deliberate, ringing guitar. "The Bell From Europe" gives off an air of ancient solemnity with Marty Jaffe's groaning arco bass bookending a meditative theme expressed by the horns.

Familiar jazz sounds turn up on the album as well. "Lilian" has Dutz's clarinet and Tucker's muted trumpet moaning a subdued urban blues over lightly dramatic piano. "Road to Recollection" has a bouncy rolling swing and "Village Steps" is a flowing groove of strolling continental funk which has all the musicians dancing both separately and together. There is also an expressive touch of bossa nova with Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Song of the Sabia" and a bit of compact West Coast cool jazz on "Implicit Attitude."

This band makes its way through a broad swath of musical styles, always playing with a sense of enjoyment and fun. They can move from imposing religious melodies to assured swinging with impressive ease. Ben Rosenblum's borderless musical imagination is well served by this group.