This is as good an example of this kind of contemporary New York jazz as you'll find anywhere. There's terrific empathy between Sipiagin and Binney, both at the top of their game, on seven excellent originals, five by the trumpeter, two by Binney. The title tune, by the way, refers to a two-strength Taiwanese vodka (of 38 or 58 per cent). There's plenty of arranged and improvised contrapuntal music here, and subtle use of guitar and Rhodes under the soloists, while Harland's ultra-busy skittering groove drumming carries on relentlessly throughout, as does exceptionally talented bassist Brewer's constant movement, using valuable notes and runs just where they are most needed. The opening ‘38-58’ gives way to the mellower ‘Way To Her’, with Escreet and Brewer switching to acoustic. A total rethink of Sipiagin's 2008 tune, ‘Echoes Of Thought’ has the composer on flugel, some really good Binney and, later, a wailing solo by Adam Rogers, who is fast becoming a first call guitarist. Alex's attractive ‘Balance’ has Binney on soprano with nice three-horn theme layering and probably the best solo on the album by the UK's Escreet. Binney wrote the CD's final two tracks: the strangely-titled down-tempo, surprisingly melodic ‘Yragon’ again features telling soprano, with equally impressive Sipiagin trumpet, while ‘Trio Whale’ closes the album with some almost hard rock, and again Rogers is strongly featured followed later by yet more striking Sipiagin. A very strong release from Gerry Teekens' label.