Bassist Noah Young has assembled a diverse cast of some of the best young jazz players on the scene for his latest EP Absolutions. They include trumpeter Steve Lands, tenor saxophonist Brad Walker and drummers Walt Lundy and Alfred Jordan. The four-song set features two covers, one from Radiohead, and two originals, which add to Young’s growing catalog of great funky jazz songs.

The opener and title cut is from the pen of the late bassist Jymie Merritt—a player and composer who should be more familiar to a broader audience of jazz fans. Merritt passed away last year at 93 after a long career including a groundbreaking stint with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1957 to 1962. Clearly, Young was influenced by Merritt’s pioneering electric bass work.

“Absolutions” opens with a sparse bass part and Jordan’s crisp drum shots before the horns come in with both harmony and unison lines. Young anchors the cut with long tones as the horns go in and out and Jordan lays down a splintering groove.

“Sheep,” the first of the two originals, bubbles with a funky groove before Lands drops a killer trumpet solo. His work is some of the most standout on the EP. Young also takes a great bass lead that recalls the influence George Porter Jr. has had on his development. The rhythm section continues to percolate under a synthesizer solo from Jay Winfield that veers into jazz fusion territory.

The final cut, “Derrick,” is a gentle ballad that showcases Young’s tasty soloing amid some spiraling keyboard work from Sam Kuslan as Lundy holds down the groove with a sweet touch.

Absolutions is another great addition to Young’s growing body of work outside his nearly ten-year career as a founding member of the jazz/funk band Naughty Professor.