Phillipe Saisse is a studio wizard, overlaying programmed drums with a variety of modern and vintage keyboards from mini-Moog to vibraphone. But it"s his playfulness that gives this CD its special character, his willingness to mix techno-dance grooves, a horn ensemble, and squiggles of analog synthesizers under his own lush piano work and the performances of collaborators such as guitarist Jeff Golub and singer Cara Jackson. Saisse can build a pensive mood, then suddenly spin it into another soundscape, with retuned piano, artificial orchestras, and muffled Vocoder conversations bubbling to the surface. "Minds Alike," with trumpet, tenor sax, and acoustic bass, is a contemporary take on traditional jazz, while "Halfway "til Dawn" is a moody mix of weighty chords, Jeff Beal"s mellow trumpet, and Saisse"s own sparkling piano. "La Vie," cowritten and sung by Angelique Kidjo, adds elements of African choir to an already catchy line, equally effective in both its original form and the pop remix. There"s a chimerical creativity here that marks Saisse for special attention. --Adam Rains