With the diverse music on Cosmopolitango, Compass Rose quintet taps into musical traditions from around the Mediterranean Sea. Although the tango originated in Argentina, it became a sensation in Europe in the early 20th century, infusing this passionate South American dance with the cosmopolitanism of Mediterranean culture. The original compositions on this disk might be thought of as musical postcards from places around the Mediterranean, drawing upon the various accents of the music found there. From the opening title track to the Iberian influence of the closing track, “Sonrisa,” you’ll hear CRq lay claim to elements of tango, French gypsy swing and musette waltz, Italian barcarole, Moroccan griha, and Spanish jota and boléro mixing with other rhythms and forms that came later to this part of the world. And in “Time Lapse,” CRq adds a modern groove of its own. The result is a cosmopolitan sound that pays tribute to and expands upon the cultures that inspired it. Since 1999, Compass Rose quintet has