Hometown

The always impressive trumpet wizard, Jared Hall, returns with a lyrical effort that's steeped in reflection on place, purpose and artistic growth, where Troy Roberts, Ben Markley, Michael Glynn and Kyle Swan lend a hand.

"Hometown" opens with Markley's bouncy piano amid Hall's rich trumpet for the warm and cautious climate, and "Step By Step" follows with Swan's frisky drumming that complements Hall's meticulous brass.

"Echoes And Origins" and "Family Groove" land in the middle. The former moves playfully via Glynn's meticulous bass and the soulful horn, while the latter allows for Roberts' tenor sax to shine alongside the timeless jazz interaction that's textured.

"Room 111" arrives late and emits dynamic interaction from the quartet for the album's best, and the reprise version of "Hometown" exits with calm and busier moments of grooves, melodies and careful musicianship.

Hall and his friends know their way around a modern jazz and hard bop tune, and the expressive and varied ideas present make each tune worth repeated listens.