Introspection

Description

A beguiling album - subtly insistent swing and insinuating melodies - from guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and bassist Harvie S. ''Introspection is a record to play on repeat, its warm, glowing allure like candlelight in a room. Yet there are some highpoints to underscore: the beautifully atmospheric trio intro to ''Serenity,'' Roni's liquid phrasing in ''Pra Machucar Meu Coração'' and the way he brings ''Repetition'' to life with glinting melodicism; plus, Harvie's aptly vulnerable arco in ''Blood Count'' and his buoyant solos in ''Nobody Else But Me.'' Then there is the bassist's hip, thrumming intro to ''Asiatic Raes'' - and the whole cooking, album-capping trio performance that follows, with Roni soloing up a storm and Tim getting his licks in, too, the drum-and-cymbal interplay of his solo richly musical. The players reach into themselves as per the album title of Introspection, but there's also the sense of communion that the best records often have - in this case reaching from the long-gone composers to these vitally alive interpreters to us, the lucky listeners.''Bradley Bambarger