Jazz musicians often write originals or rearrange standards to address specific challenges, such as unusual harmonic sequences, complex rhythms or knotty melodic lines. John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" is probably the most oft-cited example. It is in this tradition that vibist Mark Sherman's "Family First" (City Hall Records) appears, with Sherman explaining the musical intricacies in the liner notes.

You do not have to understand the details to appreciate the album. The music is quite melodic and has an innate warmth and beauty in the tonal blend of Sherman's vibes, Mark Magnarelli's trumpet or flugelhorn and Allen Farnham's piano. Bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Tim Horner complete the group, with conga drummer Chembo Corniel joining in on Paquito D'Rivera's Cuban-influenced "Wapango."

The sound of fluegelhorn and vibes in unison defines the sound of the band, Sherman explains in the liner notes to the title track. The flow of his playing often suggests late Latin jazz vibist Cal Tjader. The album includes five Sherman originals, Farnham's "Lazy Autumn," the standard "We'll Be Together Again" and three others.

"Explorations" reveals Coltrane's harmonic influence via shifting chords over a static bass note. Sherman, Magnarelli and Farnham navigate the harmonic fields gracefully -- no hint of melodic awkwardness anywhere. The title track also employs this approach. Jimmy Heath's "A New Blue" is a harder swinging vehicle with breaks for the drums.

Sherman, who studied percussion at Juilliard, has performed in Broadway pit orchestras and toured with Peggy Lee, Ruth Brown, vocal duo Jackie (Cain) and Roy (Kral) and guitarist Larry Coryell. This album is a fine testament to his experience, study and quest.

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