Acoustic Caravan - Brillante (2025) [Hi-Res]

The trio Acoustic Caravan, consisting of Vladislav Cojocaru (accordion), Vlado Grizelj (guitar), and Giorgi Makhoshvili (bass) – originating from Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia – positions itself as a traveling ambassador of acoustic world music, transcending conventional genre boundaries. Their music is a multi-layered combination of French Valse Musette, jazz, Brazilian samba and Bossa Nova, the melancholic bandoneon sounds in the style of Astor Piazzolla, and Balkan rhythms. The ensemble's phrasing, informed by the members' Eastern European backgrounds, features lyrical melody and embellishments. The trio's original compositions express themes of independence, zest for life, and inner mobility, ranging from gentle to turbulent emotions. Their arrangements maintain a distinctive signature and natural flow, avoiding a collage-like feel. The trio's live performances are marked by energy and finesse. Tracks like the energetic "Carnaval" and "Dixie" convey a festive mood. The jazz waltz "Musette" captures the flair of Parisian cafes, while "Caprice Espagnol" showcases a fiery Spanish character. The title track "Brillante" in 3/4 time has an almost tarantella-like accent, and its middle section, featuring guest Martin Sellmeir on trombone, creates a dreamy, cinematic atmosphere. Beyond virtuosity, the trio demonstrates the art of subtle storytelling in pieces such as the Bossa Nova "Little Spark" and the meditative "Sun and Moon" in 5/8 time, as well as the bittersweet Gypsy Waltz "Tristeza." The album is characterized as rich, inspiring, full of colors, and depth.

Tracklist:
1. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Carnaval
2. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Musette
3. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Little Spark
4. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Caprice Espagnol
5. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Blue Sky
6. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Marveilleux
7. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Dixie
8. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Merveilleux Reprise
9. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Sun and Moon
10. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Samba for Amadeus
11. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Tristeza
12. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Engel
13. Acoustic Caravan, Vladislav Cojocaru, Vlado Grizelj & Giorgi Makhoshvili - Brillante