From its first penetrating flute notes the sonic textures of South Asia frame Jamie Baum's ambitious collection In This Life, which successfully spotlights her compositional acuity, instrumental prowess, and talents as a bandleader.

As the title track "Nusrat" implies, the album is inspired in no small measure by internationally influential performer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, whose efforts brought the Sufi qawwali musical tradition to popular attention both through his performances and contributions to Hollywood movie scores. As well, Baum's experience as a US State Department/Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador touring in South America, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand and Bangladesh are evident in In This Life's tabla rhythms and vibrant colors, without overtly dominating the whole. Instead, these elements are interwoven with modern jazz structures and improvisational style, resulting is a many textured, nuanced series of tunes that traverse a diverse topography.

The opening "Nusrat" introduces the collection with an intense surge of energy supplied by the rapid-fire tabla rhythm, fierce trumpet, and Baum's cascading flute lines. Another exemplar of Baum's approach, "The Game" hypnotizes with its undulating beat and intertwined instrumental lines. Here,