Jenny Hill: Floating

Jenny Hill is joined by her group Liquid Horn on Floating. The musical mix includes straight-ahead jazz, Brazilian and world music grooves, plus what Hill calls "a splash of funky Brooklyn."

Hill is a master multi-reedist, employing her tenor saxophone, flute and soprano sax here. Liquid Horn adds the piano-bass-and-drums rhythm section with Allison Philips joining the leader in the front line, playing trumpet and flugelhorn.

The title track opens the album. Hill is on the soprano sax. She displays a sweet tone on the straight horn, along with a beautiful looping solo. Pianist Manu Koch slips into a probing solo of his own, while Liquid Horn sounds as if it is playing in a less-than-zero-gravity situation—an orbiting space station, perhaps.

"Deluxe Secret Sauce" is a tangy mainstream tune featuring Hill on tenor sax. Koch sparkles on electric piano. Hill and Philips sound like a pair of Brooklyn badasses (now there is a name for a band) out front. The leader breaks out her flute for "Leaving," bringing the Brazilian tinge into the mix. The sequencing of featuring Hill on her different axes is a major strength of the sound, with Liquid Horn providing the continuity of spirit.

"Midnight Encounter" opens with a two-horn unison that has a train tune sound. Hill goes into her solo with a Joe Henderson vibe. Again, Koch probes, pulling the rhythm section into a tight orbit around the 88s. "Ribbon Of Time" features both Philips and Hill taking command on their turns with a pair of hot solos.

The compositions are all from Hill's talented pen, and the mixture of moods runs hot and cool. The leader and her Liquid Horn group, on Floating, make fabulous jazz music.

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