Bracha is a marvelously diverse group and another treat from the CMP label, which is carving out a peculiar niche with its own special brand of world-jazz. Opening the self-titled release is a stirring guitar theme which gives way to a soaring bansuri in the Moorish beginnings of "Jacaranda." While there is a basic simplicity of instrumentation, many pieces display very intricate musical interplay in the often spiralling developments. Primary players are
Miroslav Tadic on guitar,
David Phillipson on bansuri (bamboo flutes),
John Bergamo on frame drums and assorted percussion, and special guest
Mark Nauseef playing Thai gongs on "Merciful" and frame drum on "For Coltrane." Each wrote at least one piece, and three titles are traditional, arranged by
Tadic. His virtuosity carries the recording, but each player shows real strengths.