Caravan of Thieves - 'Bouquet'

One of the joys of the post-holiday dearth of new music is rediscovering recordings that largely went unnoticed. One such musical joy is “Bouquet” by the Bridgeport, Conn.-based string quartet Caravan of Thieves.

Led by guitarists/vocalists/songwriters/spouses Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovanni, the ensemble’s rounded out by violinist Ben Dean, double-bassist Brian Anderson and, occasionally, guest accordionist Bruce Martin. These acoustic warriors present a delightful, humorous and toe-tapping brand of swinging Gypsy jazz informed by bluegrass wizardry.

Happily swinging its way through original theatrical tunes, the group sounds as if the Arcade Fire or Decembrists decided to frame their music in the “le jazz hot” of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Unique story-songs are delivered with a sense of humor and stop-on-a-dime, air-tight musical execution.

These Thieves will easily steal your musical heart while helping sway away the January doldrums.

– Eric Feber, The Pilot

Tracks to download “Ghostwriter,” “The Butcher's Wife”

Buy "Bouquet" (Links go to Amazon.com)

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