Encountering Venezuelan pianist Benito Gonzalez as an exciting McCoy Tyner-steeped thirtysomething with Kenny Garrett's band at Ronnie's in 2006, it seemed like a powerful keyboard newcomer had arrived who would soon make a mark of his own. Gonzalez did go on to become a fine sideman in bands led by Pharoah Sanders and Azar Lawrence, and has led four good recording sessions before this. Yet the publicity for this star-packed set featuring trumpeter Nicholas Payton and the elite rhythm-section pairing of bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, still calls him an “emerging talent”. So does Sing to the World, recorded in New York for new St Petersburg-based Rainy Days Records and including Russian guest and Rainy Days co-founder Sasha Mashin on drums, reveal Gonzalez at a midlife turning point?

It certainly generates all the fingerbusting and groove-punching heat you would expect from the core band, and plenty of seductive classic-jazz references too – exclamatory, rhythm-jolting postbop hooks, thundering McBride bass walks, lyrical Nicholas Payton elegance like the gently grooving ‘Father’, a tenderly unfolded favourite Gonzalez learned directly from its late composer Roy Hargrove. Gonzalez hints at Keith Jarrett's country-tinged elisions here and there (‘Offering’), plays fast Tyneresque runs with mercurial fluidity, and if Sasha Mashin isn’t as pugnaciously assertive as the ever-awesome Watts in his turns on the kit, he gets under Gonzalez’ sleek swing just fine. Brilliant musicians gleefully celebrating classic-jazz invitations to enjoy themselves – even if big musical surprises are scarce.