Double-reed instruments such as the duduk, shehnai and rhaita have long held a fascination for progressive free-jazz musicians and other improvisers seeking to reach past hidebound western timbres and techniques. So, it’s rather surprising that the humble bassoon remains so underused. In the hands of Sheffield-based reedsman, Mick Beck, it produces a dizzying array of sounds, from ominous purrs and growls to an insistent buzz, to a kind of medieval proto-trance music.

Even if that were all this session had going for it, it would be worth checking out. Actually, it’s a densely packed and highly rewarding 36-minute live set just bursting with ideas, performed by a cross-generational gathering of some of the north of England’s top players. Beck has played in the trio formation with the affable Hunter brothers for some years now and, here, they’re joined by double bassist John Pope and pianist Laura Cole for some very convincing energy music.

On tenor sax, Beck has a thick and lustrous tone, which frequently spurs the quintet on to dig deep into rich seams of bunched muscularity – with Anton Hunter splurging forth some particularly gnarly electric guitar. And when was the last time you heard a swanee whistle solo?