Nicholas Brust’s debut full-length album demonstrates that the alto sax player is poised to make an even more significant mark in the New York jazz sphere. Prior to becoming performer, band leader, composer and teacher, Brust studied and earned degrees at the Eastman School of Music and New England Conservatory in 2010 and 2012, respectively. For this project, Brust enlisted Ben Eunson (guitar), Tuomo Uusitalo (piano), Josh Allen (bass) and Jay Sawyer (drums). Showing considerable musical maturity, Brust composes and plays with confidence, expression and thought. Brust blows up a storm on songs inspired by struggle and reward (“Work Ahead”), inner peace (“Brooklyn Folk Song”), time and temperature (“Frozen in Time”), world injustice (“Hymnal for Those in Need”), and adversity faced by New York City jazz musicians (“Adversity”). His music mastery also shows in his compositions that take him from his comfort zone into ethereal “pop jazz” (“Hearts and Spades”), create a musical form modeled after a storm (“Something Like a Storm”), incorporate odd meters (“A Shifting State”), and meld R&B and modern grooves (“Soliloquy in F Minor”).  This album will certainly launch Nichols Brust to an even higher profile in the New York jazz scene. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)