Contrabassist Bill Noertker has spent a good part of the last several years exploring the musical possibilities of paying tribute to the area of Spain that has produced Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and Antoni Gaudi, among others. This is the second release inspired by Miro, and there is set based on Dali available on Edgetone.

The mystery, poetry and pain of Catalonia, and the influence of some of its residents on experimental art and film is what has driven Noertker to create several sets of largely improvised jazz that sonically explore that influence and contribution to many forms of art. Here, impressionistic and passionately spontaneous tunes mingle in the twilight, with the sax/flute work of both Annelise Zamula and Jim Peterson creating and extending the groove. The man known only as Yehudit, on the five string electric violin, is the clear hero of many of the eight tracks.

Noertker?s love of the artists and the atmosphere of Catalonia is clear, and in addition to being a labor of love, these releases are also able to stand in their own right as adventurous and inspiring jazz. 7/10 -- Mike Wood (24 October, 2007)