Toying with the rich possibilities of a dual-sax sound infused with keys and sturdy emotion, Mike Montrey Band can slide from buoyancy to lament in the space of a few seconds.

The sound of Mike Montrey Band (The MMB) has a rugged outline -- awareness of life’s tremors pepper the lyrics, sung with a tenor that both trembles and soars, seemingly made for this kind of poetry. Yet it’s the high-spirited melodies and flowing, exploratory warmth of the musicianship that keep this six-piece from se...