Circles are infinitely symbolic in their geometric design and interpretation—no beginning and no end, directionally ambiguous, enclosing an extended infinite inner dimensional space. In Circles, his first CD as a leader, tenor saxophonist Larry Johnson steps up to deliver a dozen fine selections displaying that he's definitely no musical square. He sounds as if he knows where he's headed musically —and that direction will not be going around endlessly in a never-ending artistic circle. Long a presence on the St. Louis music scene, Johnson and his small jazz-rock-oriented ensemble deliver a handful of friendly rock classics and very nicely reworked jazz warhorses—those playing out especially nice for Johnson's full-bodied sounding tenor saxophone. While not a pure jazz session, there's enough here to satisfy admirers of enthusiastic improvisation. Kicking off the disc with two well-known rock hits—a sincere and nicely funky cover of Billy Preston's "Will It Go 'Round in Circles," followed by Steely Dan's triple-metered and quasi-modal hit "Do It Again"—Johnson's sound is both inviting and highly energized throughout the session. "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," from the Stevie Wonder songbook, is given the Latin treatment, while the inclusion of Vince Guaraldi's "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" shows a slick producer's touch. Johnson first exposes his late-night/early-morning soul deeply on Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes." Subsequently taking excursions into classic tenor land, he take on "Body and Soul," "My One and Only Love," and "Speak Low," demonstrating a more muscular-sounding approach. "Nothing But Blues" has that "Killer Joe" feel and cooks with a fine ensemble, while Wayne Shorter's "Black Nile" flows hot.