A little-known genre of Brazilian music, choro is an old style that emphasizes showy improvising and melodic inventiveness. While it can have similar rhythms to samba, it actually predates it, though it fell out of favor since its heyday in the early 1900s.

Today, choro is undergoing a mini-revival in Brazil, though Choro Ensemble is based in New York City, made up of ex-pat Brazilians and Israeli-born jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen.

After years of playing in local clubs, the group releases its debut of fleet, swinging instrumentals. The breezy music is instantly likable and should appeal to jazz fans, but could please other crowds as well.

By Marty Lipp