Ernest Dawkins & New Horizons Ensemble - South Side Street Songs (2018)

This is an exciting band. Ernest Dawkins (heard on alto, tenor, and flute) heads the New Horizons Ensemble, a high-energy avant-garde sextet also including trombonist Steve Berry, trumpeter Ameen A.C. Muhammad, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Yosef Ben Israel, and drummer Avreeayl Ra. The driving rhythm section and rather individual horn stylists perform eight diverse pieces by Dawkins (who also contributed the arrangements) which cover a variety of moods, are not shy to swing, and temporarily embrace melodies. Each selection is stirring and full of surprises and fire. Recommended.