An elite band of musical operatives, these shadowy, mysterious figures have just returned from the troubled, violent Balkan region after playing an as-of-yet undisclosed role in the notorious “Chechen affair.” After numerous debriefings and the inevitable congressional hearings that always follow such international incidents, they quickly secluded themselves in the studio to record and produce the politically charged, yet hauntingly beautiful CD “The Rise and Fall” for Kahn Man Records, an independent pop music label. This record is a dynamic song cycle of twenty tunes in an eclectic variety of styles: up-beat pop, swing, orchestral, doo-wop, R&B, dance, cabaret, rock and ragtime. Listen and draw your own conclusions.