Rudy Royston, first-call drummer with Bill Frisell, JD Allen, Dave Douglas and a host of other jazz greats, has honed a thoroughly engaging voice as a composer and bandleader with his compelling debut 303 (2014) and the raw and bracing trio follow-up Rise of Orion (2016). Flatbed Buggy, his third album as a bandleader, is rich in tonal contrast and mood yet steeped in the supple, enduring swing and groove that has driven his writing and playing from the start.Royston leads a compact, almost chamber-like quintet featuring Gary Versace (accordion), John Ellis (woodwinds), Hank Roberts (cello) and Joe Martin (bass). There's an endless amount to discover: the melodic development and final triumphant letting-loose of the opening "Soul Train"; the hint of New Orleans rhythm in "Flatbed Buggy"; the picture of innocence in a young child twirling, on "Twirler," with a startlingly brilliant tempo shift into slow swing; or the fast, twisty theme and saxophone showcase of "Bobble Head."01 Soul Train02 Bed Bobbin'03 Flatbed Buggy04 boy... MAN05 Twirler06 Dirty Stetson07 Hourglass08 Bobblehead09 The Roadside Flowers10 Hold My Mule11 girl... WOMAN12 I Guess It's Time To Go