Picture This make pleasant music. From the very first song on their new album "Reach", where the crystal clear melodies of this Vermont jazz trio are beautifully recorded, a comforting aural pillow grabbed my head and pulled me into its snippety downy goodness.

Is that really the guitarist singing like that or is it a synthesizer? What does it matter when he (guitarist Jerome Monachino) flies through incredibly smooth complex lines like an excited but gentle madman throughout this album. His sound is somewhat like Metheny - a common phenomena in the chorus heavy world of jazz - but he distinguishes himself in his soulful and lively takes on the band's original melodies.

Monachino and Pianist Peter Engisch wrote all of the songs on Reach and although the album is seamless in its presentation of the 'new jazz' genre, it has remarkable shifts in mood and interesting tensions. It can be heard and felt in "Something about Elena", where the slower ballad feel slides into a swinging modal piece capped with superb piano work by Engisch. Or in "Miles Away" which alternates between a nicely paced almost pop melody and a decidedly rock bluesy climax

It takes a good drummer to play with the energy and stamina that this music requires, yet exert control throughout. Drummer Matthew Deluca plays solidly throughout the album moving from the driving uptempo of "Tell It Like It Is" to the Latin "More Ways Than One" without skipping a beat. He is also an impressive funk player, whipping out a fat (or is that PHAT?) beat on "Chocolate Amber".

If you like expertly played easy listening jazz, this album is for you. The recording and production of Chuck Eller and the band are flawless and 'big sounding'. The band is by no means monotonous as the diversity in their songs adds texture on many levels, but some obvious styling of what we all know as 'soft jazz' may turn off the casual listener to this album. However, the forgiving ear will be pleased to hear pretty melodies and ass whooping licks wrapped up together all squishy and nice. I bet these guys take this material into great spaces live. Check it out, baby.