Relentless

Sharel Cassity's second release as a leader gives the alto saxophonist a bit more opportunity to show off her chops, as she adds both soprano sax and flute, while she also focuses extensively on her own compositions, something she omitted from her debut CD, Just for You. Though very youthful in appearance, she's a seasoned musician who started playing young, then detoured from her initial plan to finish her music education at Berklee by opting to play in New York City, where she earned a bachelor's degree at the New School and a master's degree at Juilliard. She has also toured with the all-female Diva big band and Jimmy Heath's big band. Old friend Michael Dease is once again on hand playing trombone, while trumpeter Jeremy Pelt appears on several tracks, with a top-notch rhythm section consisting of veteran pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Dwayne Burno, and drummer E.J. Strickland. Cassity begins on soprano with her delightful brisk blues "Say What?," an intricate number that inspires stimulated improvising all around. Dease, who wrote several numbers for the leader's debut date, penned the warm bossa nova"Relentless," which includes an expanded group with the leader on flute, guests Don Braden on alto flute, flügelhornist Thomas Barber (who also appeared on Just for You), and tenor saxophonist Andres Boyarsky. Cassity's emotional alto sax fits the mood of her bittersweet ballad "Love's Lament," with lush backing by Evans. Cassity doubles on soprano sax and flute (the latter only in the introduction) in Charles Tolliver's enticing, exotic "On the Nile," a harmonically rich arrangement that recalls the power of driving post-bop of the mid-'60s. This is a fine effort by Sharel Cassity, who is clearly one to watch.