Danylo Vinarikov Ensemble: Ethiopian (DZ'OB Deconstruction)

A danceable cocktail of Afro-Caribbean-cum-Latin rhythms, "Ethiopian" stems from a salsa-ish motif supplied by saxophonist and leader Danylo Vinarikov that burrows under the skin and refuses to budge. Vinarikov's tenor looks as old as the Carpathians, but his sound and that of his ensemble, whilst rooted in the jazz tradition, is refreshingly contemporary. Short and punchy solos from Misha Lyshenko on electric keyboard, and then Vinarikov, lead into a fiery rhythmic vamp, spurred by bassist Yuriy Buzilov and drummer Dmytro Lytvynenko , to take the quartet out.

To get the full story, however, check out the original version on Bandcamp by DZ'OB, the celebrated electro-acoustic agent provocateurs from Dnipro. Its classical approach to electronic music (IDM, techno, dubstep, and beyond) places the group in a category of its own. "Ethiopian" appeared on DZ'OB's album Basement Suite (Aby Sho Music 2017). Hearing the original, a different kind of joy, places the Danylo Vinarikov Ensemble's deconstruction in a whole new light.