Robert Stillman's Horses

Not quite jazz, not quite post-rock...post-jazz, maybe? Whatever. Robert Stillman's Horses is a thoroughly engaging instrumental album consisting of seven lengthy pieces featuring Stillman's lyrical, legato tenor sax phrasing and his bandmates' low-key accompaniment, heavy on non-traditional keyboards like pump organ and clavinet. The songs unfold organically rather than establishing themes as jump-off points for solos in the jazz tradition; instead, rhythmic variety is the key, as the record moves from the waltz time of the two-part "The Dance" to the countrified shuffle of "Half-Luke" and onward to the space rock feel of the lengthy centerpiece, "Love Theme." Mellow, but with too much melodic and rhythmic interest to be considered an ambient chillout record, Robert Stillman's Horses is difficult to classify but easy to love.