On Way Back, New Orleans native guitarist Davy Mooney gets together with old friend saxophonist John Ellis to create magic as they did when they were both heavily involved in this city’s jazz scene. As informed by the album’s liner notes, Mooney’s time spent in Brazil offered him the opportunity to play with many of the talented musicians there, including those heard on his new release: pianist Felipe Silveira, bassist Thiago Aves and drummer Paulinho Vicente.

Knowing this, one might assume (wrongly as it turns out), that the music on Way Back might incorporate Brazilian flavors. Actually, like Mooney and Ellis, these cats are modern jazz-savvy. That’s evident starting from the first cut, Mooney’s peaceful “The Ancient Song.” Ellis’ thoughtful tenor takes up the melody that is first presented by the bass and then extended by the piano with the splash of cymbals adding accents. Mooney makes slight changes to the repeated melody before taking a breathtakingly clean and elegant solo.

Each artists gets space to shine with Silveira taking the lead on the straight-up title cut. Mooney displays his mastery of his instrument especially with his single note escapades. Ellis’ tenor and Vicente’s drums heat things up, trading bars.

The music heads south of the border—though not to Brazil—on “La Bruja,” a Mexican folk song arranged by Mooney. Ellis opts here for the bass clarinet, presenting its low tones in a modal sequence, for this romantic moment while pianist Silveira apparently gets caught up in the excitement of love’s adventures.

Davy Mooney and John Ellis do go Way Back in their musical relationship that’s wonderfully apparent throughout this fine release. A bow too to the jazz-wise Brazilian artists who sound like they’ve been along for Mooney’s creative ride for some time.