On his fourth release, Running Through My Mind, David Bailis leads a quintet with Caroline Davis (alto sax), Andrew Links (keyboard), Jordan Scannella (bass), and Kenneth Salters (drums). As spectacular as the individual solos are (and believe me, they are sublime), the album’s true strength lies in the group’s unified sound.

In fact, the entire album’s decision-making, from the chosen material, to the placement of solos within those songs, to the order of songs in the playlist, is masterful. The result is an album as perfect as a circle, with no rough edges, and no discernible beginning or end. Thank you, David Bailis, for the experience of an album that can be placed on repeat and, no doubt, transport the listener to infinite emotional destinations. Bravo.