Tom Gershwin: Wellspring

On Wellspring, the fourth album under his name, Vermont-based trumpeter Tom Gershwin resumes his anomalous musical journey, pursuing a path that is for the most part low-key and serene but seldom less than interesting.

In so doing, Gershwin wrests the most support he can from every member of his able quintet to unravel eight of his elaborate and expressive compositions and arrangements, two of which—the opening "Let Be" and warmhearted "Belong Here"—are miniatures, designed to provide brief respites in what Gershwin writes was an otherwise intense and demanding studio session.

Gershwin shares the front line with a longtime colleague, tenor saxophonist Mike Bjella, flanking a rhythm section that consists of guitarist Perry Smith, bassist David Ambrosio and drummer Colin Stranahan. While the emphasis throughout is on gracefulness and beauty, there is ample room on most numbers for trim and charming solos by Gershwin, Bjella and Smith. For comparison's sake, liken Gershwin to Ira Sullivan, Bjella to Warne Marsh.

Gershwin writes with explicit pictures in mind, illustrating them through his colorful and picturesque compositions. The lissome title track, for example, emulates a wellspring's flow, while "Embers" depicts embers burning in a wood-fire stove, and "Passages" deals with movement in both an abstract and a literal sense. Gershwin wrote "& You" to extol relationships and gratitude, and the time-shifting "Counter Earth's Turn" as a variation on "Earth's Turn," a tune he recorded on an earlier album.

Gershwin has fashioned his own uncommon musical world, one in which he and his companions happily reside. True, it is usually more chilly than heated there, but once accustomed to the largely frigid landscape, there is a wealth of musical warmth that even a casual visitor may appreciate.