Recorded in São Paulo, Brazil, in May 2019, it features John’s compositions, jazz classics by Jim Hall, Joe Henderson, Pat Martino, and a timeless gem by Henry Mancini. The exceptional band of musicians is fully committed, achieving stylistic variety, deep grooves, and authentic feeling on all the tunes.

Jazz pianist Monika Herzig has toured internationally as a bandleader, pianist, author, and jazz advocate. The songs on this album include original compositions by Herzig, as well as arrangements of traditional tunes and current hits. Along with Herzig, an all-star ensemble performs on these works, including Leni Stern, Mayra Casales, Jane Bunnett, Arianna Fanning, Jennifer Vincent, Reut Regev, Jamie Baum, Lakecia Benjamin, and Linda Oh.

For a lot of jazz fans, the interest in this album will lie more with the side players than the leader, and fair enough. Tim Ray is a talented and accomplished pianist, but because much of his career has been spent playing behind pop artists—Lyle Lovett, most notably, but also Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Jane Siberry—his name is less likely to ring bells than the names of drummer Teri Lynne Carrington or bassist John Patitucci. And to be honest, listening to Carrington and Patitucci mix it up on tracks like the angular, funky “Messiaen’s Gumbo” is one of this album’s greater pleasures.