Evergreen

Trumpeter Jun Iida has a sweet Kenny Dorham-style to his horn on this taste-laden album with Aubey Johnson/voc, Masami Kuroki/g, Josh Nelson/p-key, Jonathan Richards/b and Xavier Lecouturier/dr.

The genius here is the melding of Iida's horn with the ethereal voice of Johnson, who alternates between singing in Japanese, as on the soulful "Shiki No Uta" with Nelson's Rhodes, or the sweet wordless title tune that includes Iida with Richards' lithe lines. The team gets assertive on the dramatic "My Anguish In Solidarity " and post boppish for the soothing "Bellarosa". Without voice, the team is soulful on a funky "Gooey Butter Cake" and there's a gorgeous duet between Iida and Nelson on the delicious "Love Theme From Sparticus". Givenchy with a Bodhi tree.