Having made his mark as a sideman with Vijay Iyer, James Francies, Joel Ross, Maria Grand, and more, drummer and Houston native Jeremy Dutton was poised to make a strong debut as a leader, and Anyone Is Better Than Here delivers amply. Francies and Ross are in the band, on keyboards and vibes respectively, with tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel, guitarist Mike Moreno, and bassists Matt Brewer and Daryl Johns completing a staggeringly high-level lineup. The all-original program reveals a colorful melodic instinct on Dutton’s part, a way with finely detailed rhythm and intricate compositional form. “Opening Credits” and “Closing Sequence” take the journey full circle with expanded sonic effects. There is a visceral thrill in hearing these tremendous players push one another in the fresh context of Dutton’s music. Francies on “Vulnerable,” Wendel on “Unfolding,” Moreno and Ross burning bright on the gorgeous “Mirrors,” Dutton’s drum feature on “Shifts,” the all-out virtuosic funk and vibes/tenor exchanges of “Frenzy”: This album packs in a lot, with much variation in mood, tone color, and pacing. Music on a high plane.