Toronto-born Rathburn has a New York pedigree but is now based in Kalamazoo where he teaches at Western Michigan University. This is his 15th ‘name’ album and yet, as so often seems to be the case, his work is little known over here. Or should I say, to me.

All eight pieces here are composed by him and reflect, he says, “the strange fluctuations of my perception of time during that (pandemic) period and beyond.” That said, this is clearly no casual blowing date, rather a carefully curated set of performances, the tenor sound and step-by-step improvisations quite measured, the time signatures strikingly varied.

Much is made on his website of his propensity for creating composition with connections, and his interest in the incorporation of classical references. That he is a compelling improviser is also clear, these pieces often calling for solo tenor passages that can see-saw over the drum patterns, in the manner of mid-period Rollins.

The fanfare-like ‘Widen The Doorway’ has clever voicing and a mixture of rhythms, Rainey, and Versace up for it all. The through-composed ‘Wandering’ is reserved for his soprano and invokes ‘the human cry’ evident in Wayne Shorter’s soprano playing, a principal influence on Rathburn, with Versace and Hébert equally eloquent as they tour the harmonies. ‘Fast 5th’ and ‘Tooth and Nail’ are the most turbulent pieces, the tenor explorations unfettered and almost frantic. Deeply thoughtful in his approach and musically ambitious, Rathburn’s compositions and his performances move well beyond conventional post-bop jazz.