Selective Coverage on Textura.org

Sam Blakeslee's trombone playing is so warm on his quintet's debut album, there are times when the instrument could be mistaken for a French horn. Eschewing the brassy tone favoured by many a trombonist, the NYC-based Blakeslee (originally from Columbus, Ohio) opts for a sound as cozy as cashmere. Don't presume, however, that Selective Coverage is an unremittingly mellow collection; instead, it's a satisfyingly varied seven-song set that balances uptempo fare with ballad performances.