Jackson Churchill's Northward Sojourn is a hopeful, genre-bending album about leaving one home and returning to another. The trombonist and composer wrote the music in Iowa and recorded it in July 2026 as he prepared to move back to his native Minnesota. Earnest melodies, tight harmonies, and inspired improvisation carry it's themes of introspection, perseverance, and joy. Churchill leads a sextet of trombone, trumpet and flugelhorn, alto saxophone and violin, piano, bass, and drums, with guitar added on one track. Each piece has it's own atmosphere. The grooves reach well outside the traditional jazz box, with a Brazilian choro, a bluegrass-inspired blues, a tribute to the late Paul McKee, and a closing hymn for three horns. The result is a warm, accessible record for easy-listening car rides and for anyone who listens for deeper meaning.