Christine Jensen's A Shorter Distance is a strong follow-up to her debut as a leader, Collage. In two years time, she not only shows tremendous growth as a composer but makes better use of her abilities as a soloist. Several of the same musicians are present on the earlier session, including sister Ingrid (trumpet/flugelhorn), tenor saxist Joel Miller, and bassist Fraser Hollins, plus newcomers John Sadowy and drummer Jon Wikan, along with the addition of a guitarist Ken Bibace. The front line is very tightly knit after playing together over the course of a decade, with Christine's rich alto leading the way through her snappy Halfway Home. Her piece A Shorter Distance is a salute to Wayne Shorter, an imaginative modal work, while she switches to soprano sax for her swirling, mysterious Red Roads. The loping Backyard (co-written with Miller), marked by several excellent solos by the band, fools listeners with its turbulent finale. The one standard is an unusual treatment of I Loves You, Porgy, featuring Christine back on soprano sax, while it retains some of its bittersweet essence, the arranger's addition of several compelling interludes take this chestnut in a very different direction. This is terrific music by a jazz musician who clearly deserves to be better known in the jazz world outside of Canada. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		Dilemma
2		Halfway Home
3		Just Last Week
4		A Shorter Distance
5		Red Roads
6		Backyard
7		I Loves You Porgy
8		Chelsea Rain

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