Alto saxophonist-composer Caroline Davis presents the second volume of an interesting, often deeply moving reflection on grief. Invoking and celebrating the spirits of family members who have passed – her father died unexpectedly some years ago – Davis has created music that carries a personal and universal resonance, all the intimacy fraught with questioning.

A fine core quintet, in which the leader’s warm, redolent tone blends well with Marquis Hill’ lustrous trumpet, moves through compositions that have anything from funky M-BASE rhythmic intricacies to abstract soundscapes to swish neo-soul. But it is the excellent use of vocals, sung, rapped and recited, that also provides a compelling additional layer of meaning to the songs.

The contributions of Jen Shyu, Julia Easterlin, Nappy Nina and Alexa Berchini convey a poetic beauty amid intimations of mortality and illuminations of reality. As the plain but deep lyric of ‘Kites’ tells us, “Life is funny when it doesn’t work.”