Less than a year ago, I reviewed the debut album from the Saturn Quartet. The jazz group is back with another fine effort called Luz. The title cut is from the pen of Brazilian great Djavan and opens with the drummer Gerald Watkins, Jr. playing an intricate, samba-like pattern on his toms. The rest of the album features originals and three covers from film score composers as well as a composition from a local up and coming trumpeter.

Film scores are unusual terrain for jazz musicians in New Orleans, although across the entire genre many jazz musicians have composed for film and television. Let’s start with the most evocative cut on the album—the theme to the film Hollow Man by Jerry Goldsmith.

Though I don’t recall having seen the film, the song in the hands of this quartet is positively spooky. It starts with Brendan Polk’s piano, playing notes in a minor key, while Ricardo Pascal’s soprano plays a winding scale. Both instruments careen around like a lost ghost.

Mancini’s “Mr. Happy” follows with a completely different vibe. Pascal’s tenor swings through the cut while the rhythm section of Robin Sherman on bass and Watkins, Jr. keeps the tempo supple. The tune double-times with a brilliant sax solo before Polk knocks out a solo of his own.

Sherman’s “Told You” is the second cut on the album, but it’s the one that sets the tone for what’s to come, demonstrating the wide range this band roams. A repeating piano motif grounds the song against strong soloing.

The first song is from newcomer Emily Mikesell. “Three of a Kind” opens with some fine harmonics from Sherman (her husband) before Pascal’s soprano, sounding like a clarinet, chimes in with long tones. They piano washes over the mix in the background. It’s compelling songwriting played exactingly.

At only 38 minutes, Luz packs a lot of music into an intimate package. It bears repeated listening quite well.