Born in Argentina, trained in Israel (among other places) and now a resident of New York City, Dario Acosta Teich has every reason to incorporate all sorts of music into his songs. The songs revolve around his acoustic guitar, which can veer from folk to classical, but most often meandering the many hallways of jazz.

Dario Acosta Teich Quintet Folklore (self-released)

His adventurous spirit is full capable of sustaining these often-lengthy songs. The members of his quintet often approach their lines from different perspectives, which adds to the swirling effect. These are larely quiet and introspective pieces, but they shine with an internal intensity. Sometimes they do sound as if they are trying to be everywhere at once, but Teich's guitar always nimbly brings everything back into the fold.

The spare sound allows a lot of room for each player. There's plenty of mesh; while there are elements of progressive and even experimental jazz, the bleed between the lines keeps the sound warm.

There is no good way to sum up this album. It tries to say so much, and somehow it says more. I'm not sure what the overarching theme might be, but the journeys on these songs are expressive and invigorating. By the end, I felt a bit like a beach, just allowing the waves to crash over me. An exhausting set, but the weariness is a glorious feeling.

Jon Worley