Guitarist Gilmore is one of the most accomplished on today's scene and has worked with artists as diverse as Wayne Shorter, Dave Douglas, Steve Coleman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, David Sanborn and singer Joss Stone, of whose touring band he's a regular member. This is only his third album as a leader and is a live performance of a commission received from the Chamber Music America New Works Composer's grant. Numerology is based on theories by Greek mathematician Pythagoras that the numbers one to nine represent the “universal principles and progressive cycles in life”.

Interpreted by a stellar line-up of top-rated young soloists, with Zenón at the height of his considerable creative powers, here playing with a passion that his own band's records don't always match, and Perdomo, whose invaluable links between the differing moods of each ‘number’ are as important as his solos, with Gilmore himself contributing superb guitar in so many different veins, it makes one regret having to wait five years or so between each new project. Acuña takes no vocals as such, but her voice is a salient part of the harmonisation of each individual melody. As for the rhythm section, it is superb. McBride and Watts have worked together quite often and their various grooves here are rock-solid. ‘Eight: Manifestation’, with its complex African rhythms, is a highlight where Mino Cinelu's stimulating percussion is prominent. These must have been two really exciting nights at Jazz Standard and the recording quality is as ‘live’ as you could wish for.