For a debut Walk of the Ducks is hugely melodic and assured. Based in Brooklyn Israeli saxophonist Asaf Harris has a highly persuasive, mellow and communicative sound that summons up shades of Joshua Redman or even Michael Brecker. Stand out personnel on the record include guitarist Nitzan Bar who has several significant moments that ignite the groove and create space for the ensemble and drummer David Sirkis lifts the rhythmical interest at all times without crowding the sound. The two movement 'Helen Court' has an anthemic quality, especially the first piece while the second begins in more contemplative vein. The very well-engineered album does go for tunefulness a lot (the sonic clarity in the production is so necessary) which might be tiring after a while let's face it. But there is enough going on to offset this ease both in terms of structure and all-round improvisational creativity. Ingeniously crowd noise is fed in on 'The Gate Keeper' while 'Reconnecting' has a scintillating, tactile, opening. The title track arranged for three saxes is agreeably zany with its jagged melodic pathway and high register dash. Worth discovering today.