An up-and-coming jazz guitarist,
Jonathan Kreisberg contributed all eight selections to this program. "Minor Leaps" is a run through the "Giant Steps" chord changes (some of which were altered to minor chords), "Until the Sun Submits" is a lyrical ballad, and "New for Now" is a romp. On "Pacific,"
Kreisberg's tone sounds a bit like
John Scofield although his ideas are original, while on the jazz waltz "Microcosm for Two," he switches effectively to acoustic guitar. "Hobroken" is a 16-bar blues while "Peru" and "Unearth" have complex but logical chord changes and consistently inspired playing. The quintet sounds a bit unusual due to the instrumentation, which has a guitar-trumpet-electric piano front line. Trumpeter
Scott Wendholt and keyboardist
Aaron Goldberg are strong assets on the set while bassist
Matt Penman and drummer Anthony Pincotti play their supportive roles well. ~ Scott Yanow