Gareth Sager's past as a member of The Pop Group and Rip Rig + Panic (the latter probably best remembered for being one of many early conduits for Neneh Cherry) isn't really a good predictor of his much more recent solo (ish) work.

Gareth Sager Quartet Ghost Ship Trance Lamentations (Org Music)

For starters, he made his bones as a guitarist. This and 2017's 88 Tuned Dreams feature his piano work. Those early bands (including a reformed The Pop Group that still gets about) were more punky and poppy, though certainly adventurous as such. Still, as a young man he became fascinated with Chopin and Debussy, and those composers are certainly present in his own works.

The stringed rhythm section of Debs Spanton on bass and Lisa Watchorn on cello provide a rolling feel, something akin to Debussy's "La Mer." Dave Wright's saxophone provides a melodic counterpoint to Sager's piano, and the two often can be found in leisurely conversation across these short pieces.

Indeed, Sager titles each "Miniature" with a number afterward. Short, but each tells a story. Not quite rock, classical or jazz, Sager's quartet simply makes music that sings. Conceptual work can sometimes be hard to access. Sager, on the other hand, makes everything immensely easy for a listener. Drop the needle (or whatever) anywhere on this set, and a winner will emerge. Totally engrossing.

Jon Worley