When the master of "sound healing" (Steven Halpern) and the era's most innovative woodwind instrumentalist (Paul McCandless) play together, the results are bound to mesmerize. PERFECT ALIGNMENT fulfills the potential of this collaboration, providing many luminous moments of musical synergy. Halpern's keyboard textures create the atmosphere for each song. Deep layers of synthesizer, grand piano, and electric piano are set on top of slinky Ghanan and Persian rhythms. From there, McCandless (best known for his work with Oregon and Bela Fleck) lets his oboe, sax, and English horn glide into the ether. His improvised melodies feel completely at home in their surroundings.