Fahir Atakoğlu is well-known as a prolific film and TV composer in his homeland. Furthermore, he has made close to 20 recordings as leader since 1994, receiving widespread acclaim for his diverse mix of global musical influences. For this new recording the pianist has composed a set of themes about love – not only the romantic aspects, but the idea of love as an essential force for global unity. He assembles a varied international cast for the task including a total of four guest singers that have each been inspired to write their own lyrics to one of the pianist's compositions.

The West African-Spanish flamenco fusion singer Concha Buika, with her intensely fragile yet yearning, gravel-toned vocal, is the best of the bunch and sets the mood on the opening title-track. The pianist's compatriot Fatih Ahiskali's heartfelt oud at the start of ‘Day By Day’ continues in a similar vein until Atakoğlu lightens things up, his less-is-more latin-inspired Esbjörn Svensson-ish theme on piano sashays upon a funky roots-y groove.

The band switches to a more flamenco-flavoured Chick Corea-like fusion on ‘Ying and Yang’ although it's Canadian bassist Alain Caron and Cuban powerhouse drummer Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez that steal the show. A strings-led Turkish whirling folk riff forms the centrepiece of ‘Seven of Hearts’. In his arrangements Atakoğlu shines a spotlight on the undoubtedly accomplished line-up: the fretless bassist Uğur Varol and the Garbarek-ish tenor Bob Franceschini spar on ‘About You’ before the sax man shifts into more boisterous Gato-influenced territory on the sultry jazz-latin and tango-vibed ‘Rhythm of Love’. Although he's on fairly conventional terrain, Atakoğlu discovers organic connections between latin and American styles in his own sensuous brand of world-jazz fusion, and the invigorated spirit of the individual performances sets it apart.