Hendrik Meurkens’ new ZOHO recording features the harmonica virtuoso and “New York Samba Jazz Quintet”. Mr. Meurkens, a rather tall fellow who could easily be mistaken for a basketball player, except for the fact that there aren't any NBAsters expert at the Bossa Nova, Samba or Choro, also plays the vibraphone and writes notable melodies: four of the nine tracks included are his originals.

It's the unique amalgam of musicians and the music they play that have put Hendrik Meurkens and his group at the forefront of Brazilian Jazz. This live date, recorded a week before Christmas in 2005, was done at Cecil's, a Jazz club just a stone's throw from his New Jersey home. "We usually work as a Quartet," he explains, "and the more we play together, the stronger we get. But for this recording, I brought in Jed, and it was really a pleasure to have his flute and tenor share the melody lines."

Reedman Jed Levy, who served an apprenticeship with the late Jaki Byard, has played with everyone from Jack McDuff to Artur