To be totally honest with you, I don’t ever remember hearing New York-based Canadian Andrew Rathbun’s name before. But I’m very impressed indeed by this album. As a saxophone player, he’s certainly up there in the (pre-Bowie) Donny McCaslin class. He’s got an excellent sound and he’s a strong improviser. Apparently, he’s unquestionably ‘The Man’ at the West Michigan School of Music and already has a lengthy discography of albums as a leader. This is his umpteenth for SteepleChase, Nils Winther’s label. On three December 2017 sessions he’s assembled a terrific quartet. Tim Hagans’ very high-note trumpet work is perfect for these Rathbun tunes, possibly only Ralph Alessi would have done better. Seasoned veteran Versace has seldom sounded so sensitive or subtle on piano, whether comping or especially soloing. The equally experienced Anderson has rarely anchored a recording group so soundly. And Bill Stewart lives up to all the praise he’s received over the years. But the real stars are Andrew Rathbun’s seven original compositions and arrangements – and his flawless tenor solos. There’s 61 minutes of music here, all of the highest quality. The only ‘standard’ is a completely reworked version of Wayne Shorter’s ‘Etcetera’, which is perhaps the strongest track on an outstanding album, full of absorbing, challenging material. You won’t regret buying it.