Janelle Reichman has arrived. I first heard her play tenor saxophone in 2004 as a member of the group Sisters in Jazz, which was featured that year at the now defunct International Association of Jazz Educators conference. I remember thinking that she was a talented and deft instrumentalist with a brawny dark sound, and that she played with sincerity and fire. Moreover, it has been a pleasure to hear her develop her style and musicianship since then, gaining valuable experience as a member of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra while simultaneously working and touring with her own quartet in venues through the U.S. On the nights she has come to sit in with my own trio at The Bar Next Door in New York City, she has played inventively and with gusto. That being said, nothing could have prepared me for the astonishingly mature and multi-faceted musical statement she makes on her debut recording, "Middleground." From the dreamy groove of "Jam in Pink" which opens the CD, to the wonderful pastel re-imagining of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now", the music takes us on a colorful, varied trip. Janelle also reveals herself to be a formidable composer and arranger. I especially loved the harmonized lines between her tenor and the sure-footed bass of Daniel Foose on her funky song "Penumbra"; I hear shades of Chris Potter here. The tenor and trumpet writing is just as sophisticated, bringing to mind the writing of Woody Shaw as well as the great tenor trumpet tandems of the past such as Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson. She knows her history, but uses it in service of telling a fresh story. Her music has a sense of forward motion, and inevitability; swining adn thoroughly modern. Like my favorite jazz recordings, this CD leaves me energized and ready for more. Thankfully, Janelle is still at the outset of what promises to be a long, beautiful musical journey. I know you'll enjoy this confident first step. Joel Frahm New York City based tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm has over the past several years become one of the most in-demand jazz saxophonists in NYC. He played with the grammy-nominated jazz vocalist superstar Jane Monheit's band for many years, and has several recordings of his own, including the most recent "We Used to Dance" on which he is backed by a master rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, and Victor Lewis. His duo album with Brad Mehldau, "Don't Explain", was the number one jazz recording for radio play for two consecutive weeks. Joel can be heard with his own trio at The Bar Next Door in the village on Tuesday nights.