The all-star jazz sextet
Artemis
further coalesce their sophisticated post-bop sound with their sophomore album, 2023's
In Real Time
. When the group debuted with 2020's eponymous title, the all-women group brought each of the member's extensive solo experience to bear on their vibrant group sound. While part of the line-up has shifted since then, the group (still led by pianist
Renee Rosnes
) sounds even more united. Part of this is due to the increased time
Rosnes
and her rhythm section partners, including bassist
Noriko Ueda
and drummer
Allison Miller
, have spent touring and performing together. Also returning is trumpeter
Ingrid Jensen
, whose warm tone and lithe,
Kenny Wheeler
-esque harmonies work as a bold herald to the group's lush interplay. Coming on board this time out are tenor saxophonist
Nicole Glover
and alto saxophonist/multi-reedist
Alexa Tarantino
, who both bring their distinctive improvisational styles to the fore. While originality is still at the core of
' sound, there's a feeling that
and her bandmates are also exploring their influences. It's a vibe that's evident from the start on their sparkling rendition of longtime
Pat Metheny
keyboardist
Lyle Mays
' "Slink," a song culled from his 1985 self-titled album. Here,
transform the contemporary synths of
Mays
' original into a more organic-sounding arrangement, one where the contrapuntal bass groove is nicely off-set by colorful flute, sax, and vocal harmonies. They further underscore the deep influences at play on
with album's closing take on
Wayne Shorter
's "Penelope" fleshing out the late sax legend's composition with
Jensen
's muted, night sky trumpet leads,
' luminous pianos chords, and spectral saxophone solo from
Glover
. Equally potent are the group's own originals, including
Miller
's "Bow and Arrow" (a roiling tune in the '60s hard bop tradition) and
Tarantino
's atmospheric waltz "Whirlwind" (recalling
Miles Davis
' '60s recordings). There's also
's "Timber," her vocal-like trumpet textures framed by a funky '70s-style groove and
' dewy Fender Rhodes accents. While much of
evokes the deep well of the post-bop jazz tradition that inspires
, they never fail to inspire on their own terms. ~ Matt Collar