The Vibe

The trombonist and Sapporo native Nanami Haruta has been an esteemed musician since her teens, and here along with Michael Dease, Xavier Davis, Rodney Whitaker, Ulysses Owens Jr and Chris Minami she fleshes out 5 originals, 4 covers and 2 selections by Gregg Hill.

"Girlie's World" starts the festivities with Davis' mature keys alongside Dease's soulful bari sax and Haruta's glowing trombone, and the title track follows with an animated climate thanks to Owens Jr's playful drums and Whitaker's meticulous bass progressions.

Landing in the middle, "Sister Rosa" benefits much from the cautious brass amid the colorful keys, while "Easy Money" bops and shakes with an infectious energy via the firm horns that align with the precise rhythm section.

Arriving near the end, "Woodpecker" carries a frisky rhythm alongside Haruta's rich trombone, and "Unchained Melody" possesses all the beauty of the original thanks to Minami's heartfelt guitar and the emotive trombone.

Haruta cut her teeth in both Whitaker and Owen Jr's bands, and she sure seems comfortable in the leader role, as evidenced by this timeless jazz effort.