Dark Journey: The Music of Andrew Rathbun

A collection of musicians who have the Western Michigan University in common, the 7 players on hand flesh out the music of saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbum with much precision.

"Making No Sense" starts the listen with Matt Landon's frisky guitar lines alongside Rathbun's soulful sax for a timeless jazz spirit, and "Infinite Being" follows with a calmer pace of light drums from benefit much from Scott Cowan's radiant trumpet.

Deeper into the program, "Different Directions" blends the brass with Matthew Fries' key acrobatics for much warmth, while "Longer Wait" is an intimate moment of mesmerizing horns and atmospheric percussion.

Further still, "Echoes" is a rich album highlight, where John Hébert's well-timed bass suits the dreamy landscape, and "Reading The Exits" finishes with Greg Jasperse's wordless vocals that radiate a distinct coziness amid the dynamic and textured instrumentation.

The band members have origins in New York, Los Angeles and Boston, and together their respective talents unfold with strong attention to detail and top-notch modern jazz.