Brazilian pianist/composer Marcelo Zarvos continues to stake out his own musical territory at the crossroads of world music, classical, and jazz. His passion for his own country`s folklore and his natural gift as an improviser find their expression in elegantly crafted compositions, a highly personal genre he sometimes calls "world chamber music." Music Journal builds on the fusion of jazz and classical elements Zarvos forged on Dualism (M033A), his 1995 duo release with saxophonist Peter Epstein, and especially the critically acclaimed 1997 quintet album Labyrinths (M040A), with its incorporation of explicitly Brazilian elements. Music Journal features Epstein on soprano saxophone as well as Labyrinths` veterans Dorothy Lawson on cello and Mauro Refosco on percussion, and two newcomers, Chris Dahlgren on bass, and Satoshi Takeishi on drums and percussion. With a greater emphasis on composition, these new entries in Zarvos' repertoire distill his diverse experiences into vibrant, luminous music unlike anything else on the contemporary scene. On Music Journal , Zarvos brings his unique art to a new level. His Brazilian sensibilities lurk deep within the music for the most part, although they occasionally come to the fore as on "Forró em Curuipe," a bustling knot of melodies and rhythms, and "Avenida Paulista," an effusive blend of bebop and samba designed to evoke the frenetic energy of a S?o Paulo street. On slower songs like the moody "In a Doorway," Brazilian lyricism is a more subtle element, like the scarcely audible accordion Zarvos uses to texture his piano melodies. (MA Recordgins)