Elektra Kurtis and Ensemble Elektra The Book Of Time

...in mere melodies there is an imitation of character, for the musical modes differ essentially from one another, and those who hear them are differently affected by each. Some of them make men sad and grave, like the so-called Mixolydian, others enfeeble the mind, like the relaxed modes, another, again, produces a moderate and settled temper, which appears to be the peculiar effect of the Dorian; the Phrygian inspires enthusiasm. Aristotle 350 B.C.E.

An enchanting opening ballad full of eastern (European) promise, plump bass signatures and featuring the smokey vocals of India Czajkowska gives way to an instrumental hip-hop funk, Kurtis' violin almost haughty at times during the lead and not dissimilar to Jerry Goodman's Mahavishnu style when comping. Then the album realigns itself to it's main direction, and Kurtis' roots, with a Hellenic folk dance which shows off the band's skills, hinting towards a fusion of folk and jazz, a theme that stays with the remainder of the album, not only restricted to the latter day but also recalling "Le Hot Club" Grappelli/Reinhardt dialogues.

The album is a broad mixture of Greek melodies and jazzy beats released on Milo Records, an independent record company based in Poland, specializing in CD-releases of non-commercial World-Beat, Jazz and Ethnic music artists and founded in 1997 by none other than Milo Kurtis, also percussionist on this album. A highlight is the final song, sung banshee-like by Joan Bouise, a superb Brecht/Weill-ian odic tone poem. This in itself justifies getting the album.