On her second album, Regrowth, Kalia Vandever sculpts her trombone’s golden tones into dazzling compositions. Starting with the gentle liftoff of opener “Soft,” the record unfurls like petals in early spring. Vandever illuminates a relaxed and sumptuous corner of her own world with her brassy billows, while touches of piano and percussion bring earthiness to her ebullient rays. Even the spare snarls of “An Unwelcome Visit” and its reprise ripple out into a dizzying wash of horns and drums. Vandever’s journey on Regrowth is a pleasure to follow, and her open-hearted melodies make her a trustworthy guide.

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