Composer and arranger Mark Masters juxtaposes a sextet with larger ensemble on this warm and pastoral album. The all star sextet of Andrew Cyrille/dr, Gary Foster/as, Tim Hagans/tp, Oliver Lake/as, Putter Smith/b and Mark Turner/ts is in symbiotic mode with the Gil Evans-inspired 12tet which includes vocalist Anna Mjoll and alto saxist Kirsten Edkins.
The angular “Borne Towards the Stars” features strong soprano work from Jerry Pinter, while Mjoll’s wispy voice works wonders on the slinky “Lift” and fun “51 West 51st St.” Quirky moods bounce to Smith’s bass on “In Our Time” and Foster’s alto sighs on “Dispositions of the heart” and the slightly abstract “A Precis of Dialogue.” Intelligent yet still comfortable.