Over the previous decade or so, this New York-based Illinois-born bassist has been receiving deserved props for his performances with the likes of Vijay Iyer, Ambrose Akinmusire, Kneebody and Walter Smith III among others. But he’s been a reluctant frontman up until this debut release recorded two years ago. The youthful personnel, who played together in Blue Note-signed vibraphonist Joel Ross’ band, deliver the goods with Raghaven’s darkly shimmering, solidly resonant rich-toned bass proving a magnificent presence. There are superb contributions all round that offer as much a collective dialogue as a solo platform with echoes of Dave Holland’s 1990’s quintet, especially with the involvement of new vibes star Ross. Others of note are the young saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins whose lightly fluid tone can recall Paul Desmond through to Greg Osby, and drummer Kweku Sumbry’s killing direction-shifting grooves. It’s one of the strongest bassist-led debuts for quite a while.