A TASTY COLLECTION OF WORLD BEAT with a joyous “feel” throughout. This is the disc where Brian gets to demonstrate his multi-instrumentalist abilities. As I first listened to this album, it brought to mind that section of my library that I think of as “vacation music,” wherein dwell my Jalan Jalan albums, “Bali” and “Bali Dua,” and Daniel Paul’s “Rhythms of Paradise.” It also reminded me of similar world music releases by Visionary artists: Iasos’ “Bora Bora 2000,” Brannan Lane’s “Carribean Dream.” Now, Iasos’ disc is synthesis with intricate rhythm programming which took him a year and a half of study in his meticulous way in order to produce joyous rhythms. Brannan’s disc is sincere while yet missing something, perhaps too studious and not enough joyous. Jalan Jalan and Daniel Paul are very exotic works inspired by the gamelan and other musics of Oceania.

Paulson’s “Isle of Vibe” is very jazzy and the level of musicianship outshines these other recordings (well, perhaps Paul’s enthusiastic drumming and use of the tabla tarong – 16 chromatically tuned tablas – is at this level.) The pieces are well-crafted, moving smoothly from one section to the next and not just some odd riff for three minutes. I can’t help but think I hear the occasional Metheny or Weather Report reference. After adroitly moving through some carribean and african music influenced pieces, Brian easily moves into arabic and some specifically egyptian motifs. At the end there are some very humorous and extremely fun light-hearted pieces getting extremely funky. The final piece is nearly 15 minutes of native American flute with traditional percussion accompaniment to chill the vibes to a meditative state.

What impresses me about this album in particular, besides the aforementioned extremely positive and joyous atmosphere it produces for the listener, is Brian’s real-time playing of guitar, piano and wind instruments. This is obviously real talent that has also received some training, so the performances are confident, deft and well-placed. The composition are for the most part a real gas to listen to. The less impressive are more whimsical and entertaining for that reason. This is definitely one of those albums I’m taking with me on vacation.