Saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer Paul Lytton first bonded together in 1969, at a time when the UK experimental music scene was in its infancy. The following year they recorded their seminal Collective Calls (Urban) (Two Microphones) LP for guitarist Derek Bailey’s Incus Records, a debut that cemented their relationship and displayed the ingenious dexterity of both players. Fifty years later and the Parker-Lytton duo return to the title for a celebratory look-back at Collective Calls which could also be recognised as an extension of the original project. Here Lytton’s precisely placed ‘junk yard’ percussion style acts as the lit fuse for the 11 tracks on the album, each carefully titled like a collection of musical poems. Parker’s tenor saxophone soon joins in, spurring Lytton’s simple jazz kit to leap into action. On ‘Alfreda Was Always Especially Cordial To Me’ (which is dedicated to Robert Wyatt’s partner Alfreda Benge) Lytton lights up with a dazzling firework display of percussion that Parker responds to through a volley of circular breathing that quite takes the breath away. Equally exhilarating is ‘The Bonfires On Hampstead Heath’, a more concentrated exploration of their combined playing technique that magically welds the sound of both instruments together. More than being a replay of a timeless classic, this latest model successfully reinforces the special partnership shared by two improvisational craftsmen.