This is the first call London-based flute specialist and composer Gareth Lockrane's long awaited Big Band debut release on Michael Janisch's Whirlwind Recordings. It's been worth the wait, as Lockrane's infectious, well-crafted pieces draw from latin, funk, New Orleans second line and blues-rock idioms, as well as the kind of 1960s earthy soul-jazz and B-3 funk championed by his well-liked quintet Grooveyard, which he formed with saxophonist Alex Garnett in the early part of the new millennium. To the groove heavy and swing vibe, Lockrane writes colourful sophisticated arrangements for a dynamic 18-piece UK-based big band, taking a leaf out of the orchestral pad of such heavyweight large ensemble composers/arrangers as Quincy Jones, John Dankworth, Gil Evans and Thad Jones – and there's an excellent tribute to the latter's 1960-70s orchestra partner Mel Lewis titled ‘Mel's Spell’. Lockrane's sinuous flute solos – on alto and bass as well as the standard – are the pick of the bunch. Let's hope the next instalment arrives sooner rather than later.