A highly unusual debut album for reedsman Broder, aiming to create a jazz setting for the kind of folk influence usually described as Americana. Much of the material is original, with one tune each borrowed from Hank Williams and Gillian Welch, but the use of fiddle alongside the horns (and the welcome absence of guitar) puts everything in a decidedly jazz context. The leader is more than competent on a variety of reeds, and has surrounded himself with a superb team of NYC soloists (and that rhythm-section!), but the emphasis is on the writing. Broder himself contributes two scores, along with fellow youngsters Horne and Hazama, but the involvement of 69-year-old McNeely and 90-yearold Holman, with one chart each, is a pleasant surprise. Ryan Truesdell (known for his Gil Evans Project) seems to have been the driving force, as well as creating the album's centrepiece, a doomy and spacey arrangement of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ that makes prominent use of the vocal trio as well as the album's only brief echoes of Gil. One or two moments here tend towards the twee but, overall, this is highly enjoyable as well as impressive.