The highly rated Moscow-based saxophonist Alexey Kruglov and a leading force in jazz in Estonia, the guitarist Jaak Sooäär (who works with Hans Bennink among others) join forces in paying tribute to the mid-19th century Russian composers known as ‘The Five’. While it might not be a version of Russian patriotism that would necessarily get the seal of approval from Mr Vladimir Putin, the band tackle some celebrated nationalist works from the period including three of Modest Mussorgsky pieces from ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’, Rimsky Korsakov's ‘Flight of The Bumblebee’ and Alexander Borodin's ‘Polovtsian Dance’ with wit and real gusto, drawing in the main from Naked City-type avant punk jazz, free improv and east European folk-dance knees-ups. Capturing well something of the high spirits and passion inherent in the original works, it's a recording that really hits the spot.