David Friesen is never a musician to stay with one style or band arrangement for long. This collection of studio sessions recorded in 1995 and 1996 feature a dozen originals, mixing Old World elegance with modern jazz and even a touch of subtle synthesizer. The band sounds much larger than a quintet, featuring keyboardist
Randy Porter, trumpeter/flugelhornist
Gary Barone, drummer
Alan Jones and violinist Ulli Dinter. The group sounds very well rehearsed as they explore
Friesen's challenging compositions. Highlights include the infectious "Kings and Queens" and the elegant "Open Windows," even if the latter opens with strangely aggressive drumming.