Troy Roberts: Nu-Jive Perspective

Though still a pup age-wise, Australian-born saxophonist Troy Roberts has two Grammy nominations under his belt and has shared the stage and studio with luminaries that have defined the musical spectrum, including Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Joey DeFrancesco, Christian McBride, Orrin Evans, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Nu-Jive Perspective, his eighth disc as leader and third with this globally boisterous quintet, is a youthful romp through all the sounds of New York's neighborhoods.

Hovering in that cool zone between smooth soul and street-fueled growl, Roberts and his emphatic posse maintain a versatile, free-flowing dialogue that is clean and concise, never busy or cluttered. They are brimming with ideas as they follow Roberts' acrobatic keening through the robust kick-off of "Fame & Four Tune," "Slideshow," and the lengthy workout "Through The Eyes of Psychoville."

The rhythm team of bassist Eric England and drummer Dave Chiverton are especially kinetic, helping Roberts shape his actively fluid compositions, providing plenty of airspace for guitarist Tim Jago and keyboardist Silvano Monasterios to add a sizzling layer of rock and fusion excitement to the overall sound. Roberts likes his tone rich, and that richness gets seductive as he dims the lights and breaks out the wine on the neatly, though punningly titled "Adamant Eve."