The Black Art Jazz Collective mark their 10th anniversary with a stirring collection of originals recorded by two different line-ups over two days. Lean, muscular arrangements, a sonorous front line and vibrant rhythms confirm Jazz Messenger’s roots. Strong personalities and drummers Johnathan Blake and Mark Whitfield deliver the contemporary twist.

‘Truth to Power’ finds trumpeters Jeremy Pelt, Josh Evans and the impressive Wallace Roney Jnr in an honours-even trumpet joust; written by tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, it marks Pelt’s departure, and introduces his replacements. Otherwise, the album presents a front line of Escoffery, the band’s mainstay and founder, alongside Pelt and trombonist James Burton supported by rhythm sections old and new.

The album opens with lean piano voicings over Vincente Archer’s pedal-point bass introducing ‘Black Heart’s’ warm narrative arc. ‘The Fabricator’ is next, with pianist Xavier Davis now playing Fender Rhodes. As the piece unfolds at a confident Blake-fuelled strut, sonorous brass confirms the album’s sonic palette and cleanly articulated solos the band’s improvising prowess. Later, the established line-up delivers a fine-tuned waltz, which digs in at speed and ends the set with a blues.

The current rhythm section is featured on three compositions plus the album’s title track. Drummer Whitfield continues Blake’s urbane power and pyrotechnic drive, and with pianist Victor Gould and bassist Rashaan Carter equally accomplished and in style, the transition is seamless. For confirmation, just check out their playing on Pelt’s gorgeous ballad, ‘Soliloquy (for Sidney Poitier)’.