Ritmos Queridos

Based in France, where he organises Marseille's annual Tambory Canto Latin music festival at the Cité de la Musique, Simon Bolzinger is a long-term student of traditional rhythms from the Caribbean-notably Cuba-and Venezuela, and has recently begun to explore the musics of South America as showcased on this latest release. A seasoned jazz pianist, he brings to bolero, danzón, huayno and other genres a sensitive, subtle pair of hands, tracing the connections between them while allowing each its own identity. Backed by bassist Willy Quiko and percussionist Luca Scalambrino, he espouses an egalitarian approach.

The piano is a constant, tracing the sounds of the pampas (Argentinian zamba ‘La Pomeña’), a romantic Mexican nightclub (classic bolero ‘El Ciego’) and the Peruvian Andes (trad huayno ‘Mambo de Machaguay’). But it's all delivered quietly, with care and craft, the drums and double or electric bass playing along in a similar vein. Stripped of lyrics and local instrumentation, these rootsy songs become urbane but also democratic - open to new listeners. Bolzinger's right hand and Quiko's bow are the only showy dancers here. Tame, perhaps, but a set of enjoyable teasers.