by Glenn AstaritaSaxophonist Stefano Di Battista's third release for Blue Note records, Round About Roma, is awash with lush, orchestral arrangements in concert with a silky smooth jazz touch and shifting rhythms. With this outing, the artist pays homage to his birthplace as he paints a vivid musical canvas of Rome, Italy -- where he conjures up imagery of a city beset with intrigue and romance. Di Battista's brainchild features whispery flutes and soul-drenched sax lines amid the Symphonic Orchestra of Radio France's punctuating accents and contrasting motifs. Di Battista conveys a gamut of emotional responses via his often-softly enacted phraseologies and sensitive approach amid an overall air of optimism that permeates this release. Sure, some jazz aficionados may view this production as being a tad synthetic or more conducive to department store music. However, the saxophonist's sanguine melodies and heartfelt approach yield noticeable dividends. Vince Mendoza's complementing arrangements and lightly woven designs function as the multi-hued textural component to this enticingly enjoyable affair.