The soulful, crystalline guitar playing of Ralph Conde is rooted not only in jazz and blues but also in the culture of his Haitian background. Conde's new Single "Aji Mal" is a dazzling travelogue, an exotic overview of Caribbean and Brazilian sounds. Those who wish to venture beyond the sterile confines of contemporary American jazz have much to savor here as Conde spices the record with an assortment of Latin and European styles.