This is a real pendulum swing of an album, metronomically shifting between self-penned, funky instrumentals and more low-key, laidback sung standards. Berklee graduate and Thelonious Monk Institute alumnus Nick Vayenas demonstrates an easy mastery of both trombone and trumpet on his third album, which follows Synesthesia (2009) and a self-titled 2012 release. He's also a vocalist: he's worked as an instrumentalist with Michael Bublé extensively across the past decade and could be the Canadian crooner's wistful, downbeat cousin when he opens his mouth to sing (in fact, he's often taken the mic at Bublé gigs). His version of Leonard Bernstein's ‘Some Other Time’ drifts charmingly into alt.country territory, in part owing to the spacious guitar work of Doug Wamble. The style on that track contrasts sharply with the James Brownesque groove of opener ‘I'm Looking At You’ or the crackling blues of ‘Polemic’, which features fierce soloing by Vayenas on trumpet and Patrick Cornelius on alto sax. But actually the alternating formula works really nicely – a great mix of pure chops and tender wit.