Itamar Borochov: Arba

Trumpeter Itamar Borochov is originally from the Middle East but is part of the New York jazz scene. He plays a quarter-tone trumpet which helps bring an unusual expressiveness and calm to his sound, This is well-suited to the music he plays which is steeped in the chords and scales of the Mediterranean area where he grew up.

Tracks such as "Abraham" and "What Broke You?" spotlight the ethereal beauty of Borochev's sound as he broods over Rob Clearfield's careful piano lines. His trumpet is so hushed and concentrated on "What Broke You?" that it almost sounds like an alto flute. Borochev's voice comes into play on several tracks, adding another poignant element to the music. His wordless singing floats in the background on "Abraham," thrillingly wails on "Wabisabi" and melts into the bass and piano lines of "Who Shall Grant Me Flight." He sings lyrics on "Ya Sahbi" which translate as "Take your glasses off, my friend, take your glasses off" in a high fluting voice which resembles his trumpet sound. This is set against the drama of Clearfield's deliberate, heavy chords and Jay Sawyer's explosive drumming.

Much of the album goes by at moderate to slow tempos but there are exceptions; "Bayat Blues" is a lively folk melody where Borochov's trumpet dances over a bumpy rhythm. Clearfield touches on blues and soul in his solo, before the music shifts up-tempo and briefly goes into a mainstream jazz groove, with the leader blowing expertly at high speed. "Truth" is a mix of snaky melody and bubbling percussion which leans close to Latin jazz with mellow, infectious rhythms. Rick Rosato gets a brief bass spotlight here alongside Borochov's soaring turn.

Borochov's melodic sense gives a feeling of serenity to this album which carries through whatever setting his rhythm section provides. The playing of the entire quartet creates music with a haunting lyricism and quiet power.