Anthony Branker & Ascent: Spirit Songs

Primarily working outside of the major league jazz spotlight, but not far from it by any means, Anthony Branker is crafting some of today's finest compositions—and has assembled the sextet Ascent to bring them to musical life.

Spirit Songs consists of tunes Branker has written since 1997, performed by a rather formidable unit: saxophonists Antonio Hart and Ralph Bowen, trombonist Clifford Adams, pianist Jonny King, bassist John Benitez and drummer Ralph Peterson. Branker heads the Jazz Studies program at Princeton and is a jazz faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music. He also was trumpeter and assistant musical director of New York's Spirit of Life Ensemble.

There's a rather fine Jazz Messengers feel to this sextet, given its instrumentation and the way the music moves and breathes. Branker allows his soloists ample room to go inside the music and stretch it. His "Sketches of Selim (Miles spelled backwards) is a tribute to Davis. "Mentor turns into an unabashed drum showcase for Peterson. The bouncing, reggae-tinged "Imani (Faith) features an incendiary alto sax solo by Hart—and has already shuffled onto my list of the top new jazz compositions of the year. The closer, "J.C.'s Passion, is the composer's artful variation on "Impressions and "So What, with King launching it into high gear with his piano intro.

The lyrical groove of the Spirit Songs project, performed by one mighty fine bop sextet, makes me anxious to hear Branker's other side—his trumpet playing.