I wrote this review for jazzreview.com. Click here to read it on that site. You will have to scroll down some.

Edward Ratliff’s Rhapsodalia Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel (Strudel Media, 2000)
review by Micah Holmquist
July 2, 2000

Michael Attias (alto and baritone saxophone),
Sam Bardfeld (violin),
John Hebert (acoustic and electric bass),
Kevin Norton (drums and vibraphone),
Edward Ratliff (cornet, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, accordion)

In the brief linear notes Edward Ratliff dedicates Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel to film industry of Hong Kong. Not being familiar with this source, I can’t vouch for how much of such cinematic influences shine through in the music but there is certainly a show tune vibe apparent in much of the material. The disc opens with "Bip Bip" which is original composition by Ratliff even though sounds as if it must be the theme to some television detective show that I can’t remember the name of. The tune is full of bright tones punctuated by an underbelly of Michael Attias' baritone and drummer Kevin Norton’s snappy rhythms. Other cuts have more laid back qualities such "Fish Song" which features John Hebert delightfully plucking away at the loose strings of his bass. Throughout the disc, Rhapsodalia manages to create the type of merger between various musical styles that only a foundation of jazz allows for. Influences from not just Asian music but also Middle Eastern and European styles are easily heard.

Which makes for a fun disc to listen to but not necessarily much more. I found Wong Fei-Hong Meets Little Strudel to be great background music and a good conversation starter but was highly disappointed when I tried listening to it intently. Neither the solos nor the compositions really moved me with one exception. "The Wong Fei-Hong Theme" begins with a clip of dialogue from some Hong Kong action movie before moving into a slow and nuisanced solo from violinist Sam Bardfeld. Bardfeld knows how to provoke emotions but doesn’t over do it with this melancholy section. Norton soon joins him on the skins and after that comes the rest of the group chimes in for a clearly rock influenced number that does not lose sight of its Asian influences. That is first rate stuff!

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