This international collective led by Norwegian keyboardist, composer, and arranger Jon Balke released its ECM debut in 2009 and is now back, rallying powerful instrumental forces behind a new lead singer deeply rooted in Arab music traditions.

"Millie danced to jazz in her Italian neighborhood. Pedro danced to Latin songs in his Puerto Rican neighborhood. It was the 1940s in New York City, and they were forbidden to dance together ... until first a band and then a ballroom broke the rules. Machito and His Afro-Cubans hit the scene with a brand-new sound, blending jazz trumpets and saxophones with Latin maracas and congas creating Latin jazz, music for the head, the heart, and the hips....