Dreams I Dream

It's not all that unusual to sustain a jazz group for 20 or more years; longevity and legacy are practically hallmarks of the genre's history. Still, that doesn't mean it's easy to do. However, bandleader and Hagiga founding member Alon Farber has remained up to the challenge, and with Dreams I Dream, the composer and saxophonist has put together a record worthy of celebration, the Hebrew meaning behind his ensemble's name.

The dream-based theme of the album makes for an approachable but very stimulating entry point to Farber's work. "Cookies" starts with a bouncing and busy solo saxophone line. The music eases into a slower, full-band swinging melody but things don't settle into too much of a groove before Farber's solo acrobatics resume. "Minor Trap" adds to this mood with Katia Toobool dancing up and down the piano midway through, providing quirky contrast against the steady rhythms of Yonatan Rosen's cymbal taps. "Theme For Einat" brings Farber's dream to a peaceful place, grounded by Hakimi's strolling bass plucks and the gentle, continuous sweep of Rosen's brushes, before "Minorism" lets the light back in and everyone shines before the good dream ends all too abruptly but just right.