Lending a Gallic touch to this collection of originals and covers， renowned jazz accordionist Richard Galliano imbues <I>Laurita</I> with a memorable blending of world music and jazz sensibilities. This 1994 album begins with a driven， inspired reading of Hermeto Pascoal's "Leo， estante num instante". Portal's moody， angular clarinet solos complement Galliano's enthusiastic playing， while Palle Danielssonn's bass provides the hypnotic foundation. The guests are impeccably spotted throughout the 10-track programme， whether it be harmonica specialist Toots Thielmans (who interacts in misty fashion with Galliano during the beautiful title track) or violinist Didier Lockwood， who evokes Stephane Grappelli in "Decisione". The virtuosic "Libertango" shows the ensemble at their swinging best， while the discreetly harmonised "Milonga del Anglea" finds composer Astor Piazzolla in a more reflective mode. For his part， Galliano's ability to dissolve complex harmonies into the simplest of tonal combinations provides for one of the album's more penetrating devices ("Giselle"). The individuality of each composition is given top priority here， and Galliano's coloration carry the listener along with a musical potency invoked for its own sake. <I>--Kevin Mulhall</I>