When drummer/composer released 2021's , his debut for , he showcased a quintet he'd been working the road with. Its lineup -- bassist , vibraphonist , pianist , and alto saxophonist -- delivered an eight-song set that tastefully showcased the canny communicative strengths of the ensemble. Three years on and seasoned by dozens of gigs, contains five compositions by , two by , and one by , along with tunes by the late violinist -- the drummer's father -- and late mentor/drummer/composer The set is dedicated to them. 's playing and composing signatures differ from most drummers, which is presumably why he made such a great addition to the , , and . Opener "Lament for Lo" is a minute-long tom-tom solo played with mallets; it's an incantation dedicated to the memory of drummer . At just under ten minutes, "The Passage" is a shining example of this group firing on all cylinders. Composed by 's father, it has a rippling, post-bop modal theme with a harmonic questions-and-answers dialogue between piano and vibes under ' labyrinthine solo. It's followed by the equally lengthy "Muna and John's Playtime" (titled after his children), and draws equally on South African township and gospel music, contemporary jazz, and post-bop. ' pianism and his lyric synth play bridge all the instruments. and add mysterious fills, accents, extrapolated harmonies, and breaks. answer by trading compelling solos. "Tiempos" is one of the set's more intriguing tunes, with elements of a wedding tango, Cuban danzon, son, and blues illustrated by the piano trio. Its elegance, humor, and grace rival 's for subtlety. With its crisscrossing theme, syncopated rhythms, and intertwining harmonic dialogue between piano and vibraphone, has to eventually join with his own break. 's "Tears I Cannot Hide" is a ballad. The dovetailed lines played by flow into one another then overlap with contrasting lead voices. ' Rhodes piano adds additional textural and tonal variation, extending the tune's reach. ' quirky "A Slight Taste" cuts across hip-hop, jazz-funk, blues, and fusion. adorns the push-and-pull dancing rhythms with Rhodes and MiniMoog, as wind around one another, reaching further into their exchanges before drops a brief, mesmerizing, soulful solo. Closer "W. Berkley St." is a lithe, fingerpopping post-bop number with South African jazz and gospel overtones under its sun-drenched melody. As adds easy-grooving breaks and accents, traces the harmony while making it swing with a subtle Afro-Latin groove. rolls up and down the alto horn alongside them. also goes a bit further than its predecessor due to the more mature, intimate communication between these players as they confidently articulate 's music. ~ Thom Jurek