Mediterranean Quartet

Belgian Gypsy violinist Tcha Limberger has featured several times in these pages for his excellent jazz manouche, Hungarian Gypsy and Transylvanian recordings. I wish I could be as enthusiastic about this project with French guitarist Matia Levréro plus accordionist and saxophonist Guilhem Verger and percussionist Simon Leleux.

The compositions are largely original, jazzy and Mediterranean in character. The track ‘Carlos Paredes’ suggests a tribute to the great Portuguese guitarist and ‘Wedding in Méra’ might draw on Limberger's Transylvanian repertoire, but I can't hear the links in either case. ‘Manes Tis Avgis’ is a tango-like Greek tune that fares rather better, poignantly sung by Limberger, although all the tracks rather outstay their welcome.

Limberger's strength is the chameleon-like way he can adopt other musical colours. The problem here is it all seems superficial and skin-deep.