A longstanding partnership between trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianist Uri Caine is supplemented by drummer Andrew Cyrille, making for a compelling musical union. Which is little surprise given the high standing of each, but the trio makes its mark with much more than skill of execution. The melodies, both in their varying shapes and consistent emotional depth, really stand out. Some are jaunty, skipping, quaver-led affairs, others are much more solemn laments, in which tonal precision and textural colour, from a gently rendered bass piano chord to an almost imperceptible caress of the snare, are paramount. Douglas' seamless transition from hissing muted brass to hummed vocal on the beautiful ‘Francis Of Anthony’ is a highpoint in this respect because it is musically inventive, and captures something of the off-centre nature of its subject, Franco DAndrea. Then again the short story-like songs dedicated to Carla Bley Mary Lou Williams and Dizzy Gillespie are also convincing evocations of individuals who have purveyed anything from ‘fancy chamber music’ to Afro-Cubop, gospel and soulful blues. Each player solos to good effect but Devotion is resoundingly a triumph of ensemble chemistry, with a fine balance struck between measured understatement and well-judged emphasis, as can be heard on the moving title-track, a take on Alexander Johnson's ‘Devotion’. It is a timeless 19th century ‘Sacred Harp’ tune that has the dignity of an ‘Ol' Man River’ or a ‘Come Sunday.’