This fifth release from guitarist Henry Robinett has more than its fair share of hook-laden numbers, deep rivers, tributes, and positive musical offerings. It's a highly personal statement that serves as a journal of sorts, with Robinett stepping forward to musically reflect on a variety of topics and people near and dear to his heart.

The dozen pieces that appear here make it plainly clear that Robinett is a man who places a high premium on clarity. His well-thought-out messages, be they focused on tragedy, love, or life's winding road(s), manage to appeal to the ear. If jazz has an accessibility problem, nobody bothered to tell Henry Robinett.

This first two numbers on the program—the chipper "Change," dedicated to Robinett's wife, and the upbeat "Crush"—are of a piece. Both are catchy, built on relatively simple foundations and full of instantly welcoming ideas. But they don't provide a complete picture of who Robinett really is. The listener needs to see this one through in order to fully appreciate his talents. One only need encounter the life-affirming "Sprung," for example, to realize that there's more to this guitarist-composer than meets the eye early on. A delightfully hip unison line—a signature for the song—sets things in motion, drummer