I am not at all a fan of jazzing up classical music as a rule because some essence of the original music seems to evaporate in the transformation and you are left with some sort of middle way that is never that satisfying. But there are exceptions and I think Bizet: Carmen in Jazz is one especially when saxist/bass clarinettist John Ellis' quartet move beyond the oh so familiar themes of Bizet's and feed in new improvisations that the themes have inspired. I'd go for 'Gypsy Song' and 'Card Song' as the meatiest of the tracks here in terms of improvisation. But overall Jason Marsalis on drums injects a lot of pace - the quartet completed by the great bassist Reuben Rogers and revered pianist Gary Versace, so it's a fine band at work. And it's surprising what develops the more the band frees itself away from the edifices of the famous melodies themselves. SG