Wolfe’s previous CD, recorded at Smalls, was very much a live date. Here, in Systems Two studio, everything is much lower key, with the accent on melody rather than excessive improvisation in a set of predominantly ballads. The basic group here is tenorist JD and rhythm, with all the players exercising restraint and concentrating on control. JD’s heartfelt feature ‘How You Love’ is a particular master class in this respect. A string quartet is strongly in evidence on many tracks, especially those on which Russell Malone guests. Wynton’s two guest spots have thoughtful solos over a perhaps too lightly swinging rhythm section, while Marcus Strickland on soprano only appears on the final two short tracks. The tastefulness of all 13 tracks may be somewhat overpowering at times, but it does show that even the hardest swingers also have their tender side. Wolfe himself is an excellent bass-player, currently most active with Diana Krall, and his melodies, despite being occasionally soporific, are all immensely musicianly, as, indeed, is the entire album.