" data-original-title="" title="">Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm broke the mold. There are no two ways about it. And while some may look at a statement like that and cry hyperbole, history begs to differ. With rare exception, the bass trombone—a horn forever typecast as an anchor—has been marginalized. So the idea of an ensemble featuring that denizen of the depths—a band playing music specifically commissioned to hinge on it, highlight it, and showcase the playing of one of its foremost practitioners—had no real precedent. But if anybody thought this group's maiden voyage was built around the allure of an oddity, they seriously missed the point. It was the work of an artist and outfit with a well-charted direction and strong intentions, and it left a clear message in its wake: This is not a novelty.

With this aptly titled sophomore release, Wharton returns to her rightful place at the center of the frame. Her instrument, while maintaining its noted sense of gravity, proves dexterous. And her bandmates—all carryovers from the previous album—are the tops. A veritable who's who of slide rulers possessing varied and unique sounds fills out the front line, with trombonists