Big band combining some traditional forms with free improv. Mainstream names (Ted Curson, Kenny Wheeler) alongside folks more associated with outside jazz (John Surman, Roger Dean, Tomasz Stanko). The compositions combine some retro '60s horns with slamming, louder jazz (track 1 is a nice example). Solos tend to get into free-jazzy hard digging. Great stuff even for fans of normal jazz, especially the second halves of 3, 4.

Long tracks, 10 to 14 minutes, bookeneded by 3-minute intro and outro (tracks 1 and 7).

Sax/flute: Geoff Warren
Sax: Juhani Aaltonen, Art Themen, Matthias Schubert (oboe too), John Surman (bass clarinet too)
Trumpet/flugelhorn: Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther, Manfred School, Tomasz Stanko, Ted Curson
Trombone: Malcolm Griffiths, Eje Thelin, Conny Bauer
Tuba: Dave Powell
Guitar: John Schroder, Ed Speight
Piano: Roger Dean
Bass: Paul Bridge
Drums: Ashley Brown


1- Ah, big foreboding intro. Then, slower swaying stuff.
2- Big and exciting overall. Stern unaccompanied horns, then fairly fast and breezy straight jazz with flowing piano and some edgy soloing. Chattery ending.
3- Slow flute intro and guitar solo. Then some coolly brisk piano work with breezy club-jazz solos and a touch of free jazz
4- Weird growly intro, leading into a floaty flute oasis. Second half brisk, upbeat.
5- Sparse, slow. Later, a goofy unaccompanied trombone solo (fun!). Ends with a bright trumpet/sax segment and a big jumble.
6- Bright intro. Wild sax solo over stumbling piano. Gets big and swingy, cool. Fast, straight, guitar solo. Crazed finale.
7- Sharply cascading, fast stuff, into a fast flowing piano-backed segment.