3 1/2 STARS
Chicago guitarist Jason Steele has produced a standout session. Steele writes languid whole-note melodies with room to maneuver, but the ensemble never takes things too far afield. This is deliberate, studied music, perhaps a bit too much so; you yearn for the players to cut loose.

Only "Proceed To Numb" stokes the fire a bit, and it never fully ignites. Mostly, Steele leads his brass-heavy group at a measured pace,with Ron Miles featured heavily-his clear, piercing cornet lines dominate the selections to the degree that you might easily mistake this for his session. Thad Franklin also scores some rarified flugelhorn and trumpet leads, and Josh Sclar and Tim Sullivan step forward with powerful statements.

If the rhythm section doesn't jump out, it's because the slow tempos keep their contributions muted. Beauty is valued over intensity. The group seems in telepathic lockstep. The melancholy, haunting album is anchored by the 12-minute slow vamp "No Words" and the recurring theme "i." Only on the latter does Steele emerge out of the shadows. Otherwise, he lets his compositions and band mates do the talking. Such rare selflessness is one of many reasons to admire this subtle debut.
-Jeff McCord
Downbeat Magazine