Sixteen Sunsets

It isn’t all that common to hear someone only play soprano sax; its tone can be shrill in the hands of lesser players. Yet the award-winning Jane Ira Bloom skillfully highlights the lyrical and musical qualities of her instrument. This is particularly the case on this program of standards and originals. A ballad-heavy set offers its own challenges, but Bloom and pianist Dominic Fallacaro, bassist Cameron Brown, and drummer Matt Wilson slow-dance their way through the album with a quiet intensity. That many of the melodies are recognizable further illustrates the beauty of Bloom’s tone; check out the solo version of “My Ship” or “Too Many Reasons.” Yet her writing also holds up well against these imposing tunes, particularly on the elegant “What She Wanted” and “Primary Colors,” which is an uplifting Latin tune that breaks the quiet spell for a moment. The title here comes from a quote by an astronaut who listed one of the perks of orbiting Earth; now Bloom (who's been commissioned to write music for NASA) offers 14 musical sunsets of her own.