Lena Bloch - Heart Knows (2017)

Tenor saxist and composer Lena Block has a gorgeously warm and mellifluous tone, sort of a mix between Lester Young and Warne Marsh, and she uses it to excellent effect on this honey-toned collection of originals with a post-bop team of Russ Lossings/p, Billy Mintz/dr and Cameron Brown/b.
Lossings serves as a perfect softball pitcher, delivering rich notes as intros to the sighing “Lateef Suit” as well as the warm and gentle title track. Percussive piano strings create rich hues on “Munir” while Mintz’s brushes cast a silhouette on “Counterclockwise” and create a starry night on “French Twist.” Brown’s pulse is delicate and dainty for “Esmeh” while the elegant “Newfoundsound” closes the pastoral album with glowing breaths and subtones with Lossings. This one’s a palpable treat.~By George W. Harris