Bulent Altinbas

Bulent Altinbas: The Song

by Mark Sabbatini
June 7, 2006

Never mind the bad first impression. It's having two or three in a row that really kills you.

Turkish clarinetist Bülent AltinbaÅŸ has assembled an intriguing collection of ethnic jazz in The Song, but listeners have to get past three opening techno/ambient songs of dubious value to get there. The initial tracks are so at odds with the rest that it's hard to explain them, aside from an ill-advised attempt at broadening the recording's commercial appeal.