Kids Mysteries

The compositions on Kid's Mysteries, all by Bergin, are buoyant and swinging, taking as their starting point the infectious melodies and rhythms of South African township jazz. Listeners familiar with the work of Dudu Pukwana and Mongezi Feza will find themselves at home here, even though the soloists, perhaps taking a cue from the work of Chris MacGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, take things a little further into the free jazz realm. Drummer Han Bennink does his usual superb job at both keeping the proceedings moving forward and prodding the musicians with unexpected accents. Among others, the under-recorded pianist Alex Maguire and reedist Michael Moore make delicious elaborations on Bergin's catchy themes. A very nice album in and of itself, Kid's Mysteries can also serve as a seductive introduction into the kaleidoscopic Dutch avant-garde jazz scene.