By showing him off in smartly varied settings, this pleasing collection serves both committed fans of French accordionist Richard Galliano and those unfamiliar with his work. An internationalist whose primary sources are French and Italian musette, Argentine legend Astor Piazzolla's new tango, and all manner of American jazz, Galliano moves commandingly among styles without compromising his highly developed sound. He trades licks with Django Reinhardt-molded guitarist Bireli Lagrene, settles into waltz time with Belgian harmonica cat Toots Thielemans, thrives in piano-based groups, and luxuriates in the string arrangements of the Solisti dell'Orchestra della Toscana. Boosted by European and American rhythm players, including bassists George Mraz, Palle Danielsson, and Jean-Francois Jenny-Clark, and drummers Al Foster, Joey Baron, and Daniel Humair, Galliano deftly tempers his attack to suit his surroundings. Seldom has an accordionist played with greater heat than Galliano, who suggests an unlikely debt to John Coltrane's storied "sheets of sound" with his voracious piling on of notes. There's plenty of French charm in his playing, but never at the cost of high adventure. --Lloyd Sachs