Although saxophonist Kidd Jordan has entered an age when most musicians start to slow down or coast on former laurels, Jordan is still making exquisitely passionate, creative, and beautiful music. This record, a follow up to 2012’s first On Fire record, maintains Jordan’s high standards. Again he is featured with drummer Warren Smith and bassist Harrison Bankhead. Buy on AmazonBuy on iTunesLack of a chordal instrument gives all the players a freedom to take this music wherever they are inspired, whether it’s the high tones and call and response that mark the first cut, “Speaking in Tongues” or the shimmering bow work and avian phrasing of the aptly named “Waves of Birds.” There are moments of hardcore free-blowing on this record, but most of it is three musicians riffing off each other. Throughout this set of improvisations, Jordan works his way through phrases and motifs that follow each other in logical fashion without losing their emotion. His tone here is gorgeous with journeys of Coltrane-like upper register notes and alternating abstract tones and more conventional scales. Kudos also to bassist Bankhead whose solo in the opening minutes of “Coming Down Blue” almost sounds more classical than free. Drummer Smith is all over his kit in his use of timbres and sounds within the rhythms, both implied and more obvious, that he plays. Music like this used to scare people unfamiliar with it, but anyone who has even slightly open ears should find the artistry and beauty of this recording easy to understand and enjoy.