On the cover of his newest CD, Simbiosis, Costa Rican pianist Manuel Obregon credits crimson-fronted parakeets and capuchin monkeys for the making of his melodies.

And why shouldn’t he? After all, the constant chirping, croaking and whistling of animals had as much a role in making this musical ecosystem as Obregon did plunking away at his piano.

Maybe more so.

It was September of 1999 when Obregon decided to carry his piano into the tropical cloud forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica for a lyrical tête-a-tête with the local creatures. What he achieved is a tranquil and magical set of seven songs that complement and deepen the perpetual sounds of the forest without outdoing them. In a seemingly effortless way, the voice of the piano intertwines with the songs of the birds and it almost seems as if the animals are enjoying the impromptu concerto.

Unlike some new age artists that use synthesized sounds of nature to supplement their music, Obregon’s tunes are admittedly secondary to the harmonious and rhythmical world of the rainforest. The music creeps in like a soft, floating echo beneath the whistles of birds and the splashes of rain.

And despite the fact that he can’t bring the whole ecosystem with him when he plays New Orleans venues including Snug Harbor, Obregon’s melodies alone are almost as harmonious as the symphonies of the forest. Almost.