If you like your jazz straight-ahead down the line, you’re gonna love this vintage hard bop sounding quintet lead by drummer Bryan Bowman. Bowman brings together Ian Carey/tp-fh, Bob Kenmotsu/ts, Matt Clark/p and Doug Miller/b through some enjoyable originals that sound fresh and inspired.
Wonderfully soulful material such as “Pick You Up” and the rapid fired “Other One” display Bowman’s crisp work behind the traps while Carey’s warm horn glows warm here when open and gently yearns while muted as he coaxes out sounds on the fragile “Entitled.” Kenmotsu’s warm tenor is joyfully soft on the Latin “Sleeping Cutie” and the rhythm section gets into a New Orleans funky mood for Clark’s fun solo on “Restless Boy.” Bowman sweeps clean with his brushes as the trio sashays through “Border” and is nimble and the sleek title track. Put this alongside your Jazz Messenger discs.