Magic Light

The pianist, composer and arranger Chuck Owen pens a lyrically rich affair that's quite diverse, where the sextet use improvised ideas to flesh out the creative 8 tracks.

The gritty, nearly country spirit of "Spinning Wheel" starts the listen with Kate McGarry's warm voice alongside Jack Wilkins' booming sax, and "Can't Remember Why" follows with a strong attention to mood, as Sara Caswell's stirring violin mesmerizes, as does Danny Gottlieb's agile drums.

In the middle, "Omaha" is a cautious moment that benefits from Mark Neuenschwander's soft bass and Owen's meticulous keys that complement the poetic singing, while "Apalachicola" tugs on the heartstrings via the aching strings, calm keys and Matt Wilson's reserved drumming.

"What Once Was Lost" and "Magic Light" exit the listen, where the former is a richly textured album highlight that weaves in and out of beauty, and the latter finishes with a distinct dreaminess that uses soulful sax and an introspective rhythm section to support McGarry's soaring pipes.

An eclectic affair that touches on funk, folk, blues, jazz and classical, Owen and company make every selection here worth repeated listens.