As a longtime admirer of Harry Carney, Gerry Mulligan and Serge Chaloff, I welcomed this opportunity to hear another talented baritone-saxophone artist. Adam Schroeder, a native of the Midwest and now based in Los Angeles, is one of the rising stars on this mighty anchor of the saxophone family.

Schroeder is joined here by an all-star rhythm section. Young guitarist Anthony Wilson is a first-rate player who solos on each of the album’s 11 tracks. The stellar bass-drum combination consists of the great John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums, best known perhaps as co-leaders of the outstanding Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Schroeder is also heard with that outfit, so it is not surprising that this quartet works so well together.

The program is a thoroughly pleasing collection of familiar evergreens and tasteful originals by the leader himself. On the non-original material, such as “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,” Benny Carter’s “Southside Samba,” or Thad Jones’ “Let’s,” Schroeder emphasizes the importance of melody.

“Each of the songs written by others had to have great melodies first and foremost,” he says. “These are tunes that make you smile when you first hear them, and then reveal their compositional and harmonic depth the more you listen to them. They also offer vast freedom of expression for everyone to improvise on.” His original material ranges from contemplative to funky and up-tempo, but the whole album demonstrates the saxophonist’s skills and creativity as well as providing space for all members of the group to spread their wings.

All in all, those who dig mainstream bop will love this recording. I recommend it.