Antonio Faraò is not messing about: this album of trio performances leaps right in with the gospelly/modernist intro of the title track before bursting out of the gates and into a furiously swinging uptempo burn.

You can hear echoes of all his heroes, notably the triumvirate of Hancock, Corea and Tyner, and he’s assimilated them all with a thoroughness that in no way impedes his energetic flow of ideas. Patitucci and Ballard are the perfect partners in this muscular exercise. ‘Right One’ continues the bluesy inflections over a simmering straight-eights beat but rapidly develops into another show of right-hand fireworks from the inexhaustible Faraò, which he artfully decelerates to give solo space to Patitiucci, whose blend of studiedly earthy blues phrases and nifty high-speed post-bop language perfectly compliments the leader.

All the tracks are originals apart from a reading of ‘I Love You’ which Faraò attacks with gusto and a hint of late-period Bill Evans – and he can demonstrate some diverse writing chops to go with his assured technique. ’Syrian Children’ is a florid ballad and ‘Song For Shorter’ tackles the master’s oblique style with a deliberate reworking of the ‘Footprints’ ostinato. However, his preferred vehicle is the uptempo post-bop burner which this album delivers in generous portions. There’s no doubt that he sounds outstandingly good at it, fully at home in the exalted A-list company he keeps on this album, and the others which adorn his back catalogue. Fans of high-octane trio excursions should look no further.