Sudden Appearance

From a radical reinvention of "Alone Together" to the lushly orchestrated "Calming" and the burnings Liebman protege Daniel Jamieson shows great promise as an arranger-composer-bandleader on his ambitious debut. Jamieson's company shines as well: Veteran drummer John Riley underscores solos by bassist Justin Gray and guitarist Nils Weinhold on "Calming" with supple brushwork, and then fuels the jauntily swinging "Crunchy Peanut Butter" with an infectious Jo Jones-style hi-hat beat. Anna Webber is featured on flute on the evocative "Song for Anna" before blowing robust, facile tenor saxophone lines on the darkly beautiful "Ballad for Hope." Jamieson makes his lone playing appearance on a richly re-harmonized take on Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," blowing serpentine alto sax lines around the familiar melody.