(Origin Records)

Bandleader, composer and producer Anthony Branker directs Wordplay, a collective of talented musicians, on his latest release Uppity. The sound is forward-thinking, with a nice mix of swing and ballads. Branker’s direction and fantastic compositions are the heart of this project, as the players on the project bring the soul. The gifted musician crew consists of Ralph Bowen on saxophone, Kenny Davis on basses, Andy Hunter on trombone and keys, Jim Ridl on piano and Fender Rhodes, Eli Asher on trumpet and flugelhorn and Donald Edwards on drums. The recording is six selections of tremendous musicianship at its absolute best.