Bassist Daniel Casimir’s thick, even tone and precise articulation have become a familiar sound on the new London jazz scene: his extended solo feature on the BBC Proms as an integral part of Nubya Garcia’s all-conquering quartet gave ample evidence of his talents as a player. He’s led solo projects before, but nothing on this scale of ambition: a set of 11 compositions for quintet augmented and expanded by an 11-piece orchestral ensemble, giving him scope to combine the training he received at Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity Laban with the immediacy of the rich heritage passed down via his time with Tomorrow’s Warriors.

Explosive opener ‘Safe’ combines lush strings and woodwind with Moses Boyd’s trademark junglist rhythms and a punchy bass ostinato, while Nubya’s unmistakeable tenor soars and swoops above to thrilling effect. Elsewhere there are some great solo contributions from the always outstanding James Copus, and Garcia shows her versatility with her beguilingly soft-toned explorations on 'Your Side'. The compositions have a concise melodic and rhythmic directness that hark back to Casimir’s teenage enthusiasm for Motown: ‘The Truth’ has a slinky backbeat and a swooning flute and brass arrangement that would have suited 1970s Marvin Gaye, before ushering in a bravura solo from Al MacSween. 'New Waters' introduces bass guitar and electronica to create a smoothly compelling nu-jazz backdrop for Ria Moran’s breathy vocals, and her further contributions on ‘Rewind The Time’ and 'Get Even' give the album a pop music accessibility that counterbalances the ambition of the arrangements and sweetens the serious messages of inclusion and representation that informed its conception.