Album Review
Defying category, redrawing lines of separation, or setting up camp where musical worlds converge: whatever you choose to call it, the Cardamon Quartet does it boldly. Incorporating disparate musical influences like traditional Jewish folk melodies, Latin American and Middle Eastern grooves, and heaping handfuls of jazz sensitivity, the group's debut disc is as dark yet sweet as their namesake. Reflections of the Road will feel familiar to any world traveler who's found himself drastically outside his comfort zone and loving it. With masterfully crafted arrangements and subtle, evocative improvisation the band's maturity is as obvious as it is precious. Their delivery of the challenging material is consistently intent and intense. Mostly Israeli, the quartet is made up of NY jazzers Gilad Harel (clarinet, sax), Dan Aran (drums, percussion), Jennifer Vincent (bass), and bandleader/composer Uri Sharlin (piano, accordion). Though all are thoroughly competent, the Cardamon Quartet is clearly more than the sum of its parts; well balanced a musical from start to finish. Alongside albums like Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Journeys, the Cardamon Quartet and Reflections of the Road will surely end up on short lists of world music pioneers and East/West musical innovators. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide
