Bassist Christian Dillingham has a round sound, strong fingers and a score of sideman album credits ranging from modern jazz and gospel to classical music; drawing on that experience, his first as a leader presents an all-original blend of post-1960s modern jazz. The compositions are effective, guitarist Dave Miller delivers abstract resonance and grit and Dillingham’s bass is an exemplar of unobtrusive power. On the down side, drummer Greg Artry is a little heavy-handed and saxophonist Lenard Simpson has a nice airy tone, but is prone to run out of steam.

The album starts with ‘The Bottoms’, a funky, nicely-constructed paean to the Chicago neighbourhood where Dillingham grew up. ‘Like No Other’ comes next, a swinger, themed on being true to one’s inner voice, and then ‘South State Line Road’, a freely-improvised reverie flowing over a 5/4 riff. Dillingham is rock solid and guitarist Miller combines canny voicings, swinging lines and abstract clusters into an original style.

Highlights include Miller’s resonant guitar adding a surreal, nourish feel to ‘Someday Soon’ and slashes of abstraction to ‘Lost in Desolation’. And the ebb-and-flow textures of ‘South State Line Road’ sit on Dillingham’s in-the-pocket 5/4 riff. ‘Code Switch’ is the final track, bluesy with a hint of country edge. Nice album, good tunes and worth checking out for Miller’s guitar and the leader’s bass.