Guitarist and composer Mike Allemana creates intuitive post bop moods with his horn section of Victor Garcia/tp-fh, Greg Ward/as, Geof Barfield/ts, Kendall Moore/tb and a rhythm section of Tomeka Reid/cel, Matt Ferguson/b and Michael Raynor/dr along with a collection of guests on voice and instrumentation.
The horns created dark and brooding atmospheres following Ferguson’s intro on the opening “Welcome, Enter”, with the album bookended by the bohemian “The Mentor’s Benediction” as Bill Brikely does a poetic reading with vocalist Lindsay Weinberg. Cellist Reid flows along the funky bet of “The Mediator” along with Ward’s bopping alto, and the team gives a hip groove to the edgy “Libra Channelling”. Floating harmonies get misty for the genteel “Communion and Renewal”, as the whole album feels like a softly laden musical mosaic. Looking attractive the further you step back.