Bernstein, Steven – “Diaspora Soul ” – [Tzadik]

Thurston Hunger   9/4/2005   CD, Jazz

Bernstein combines the sultriness of his Sex Mob,
the greatest (under-the-)covers band going with
some more solemn tunes on this incredible release.
Joined by plenty of the NY Downtown scenesters
(this shares the warmth & the personnel of Ribot’s
excellent Prosthetic Cubans CD), while Bernstein’s
curvy, teasing slide trumpet is prominent, the
funky come-hither keyboards are what make this
so dusky and enchanting. None of the tracks ever
rush, the Disapora guarantees a lot of different
flavors…Klezmer Congo R&B strutting all over
the map. We should probably put a copy of this
in the Soul library. Built to last.