Having gathered the cream of the local Glaswegian jazz scene's young turks to support him, trombonist Liam Shortall celebrated his Spanish grandmother by dubbing his recording project corto.alto ('short.tall' in Spanish). A series of DIY releases recorded in his Sauchiehall Street flat throughout 2019 caused a mild sensation online, gaining them a Best Band award at the 2020 Scottish jazz awards. Now comes their first studio set, recorded with Nubiyan Twist's Tom Excell holding the production reins. Not For Now is an EP-length set of five tracks with a surprisingly smooth soul-influenced sound studded with tasty solo playing from the likes of Fergus McCreadie on keyboards, James Copus’ trumpet and Shortall himself. Copus features on 'No Pt. III', a follow-up to corto.alto's debut release 'No' and now given a lush production that showcases Graham Costello's unobtrusively creative drumming – a vital ingredient in the band's live sound. As with many of Shortall's compositions the tune shifts between melodic sections, the well-organised brass frontline providing both rhythmic tightness and harmonic depth.

There's an Afro-Latin feel to 'Brotherhood', with James McKay's bubbling guitar synched into Shortall's electric bass and Costello's sinuous drumming, the whole topped by KOG frontman Franz Von's incantatory rap lyrics. Title track 'Not For Now' showcases a McCreadie solo before launching into a long erratic unison section that might have impressed Frank Zappa, while the slinky 'May Day' gives Shortall the chance to show off on trombone. There's no doubt he's found a successful formula for blending classy jazz with accessibly danceable grooves and Not For Now is a showcase that should consolidate his ever widening audience.