City Folk

The second album by James Farm—a collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland—picks up where the last one left off. They once again put a premium on chemistry, setting aside solo time and otherwise highlighting different players within the structure of these muscular post-bop originals (which come from each member). The opener, “Two Steps,” is a funky bass-driven vamp that morphs into pop melody and then a platform for solos. The surging “Mr. E” is a knotty gem that highlights the sophisticated playing, and the pastoral “Farms” has a waltzing wide-open feel.