George Adams was lead saxophonist of the last great quartet of Charles Mingus – the 1974 Atlantic albums Changes 1 and Changes 2 rank with the best in the Mingus discography – and in many ways was a kindred Mingus spirit. He was steeped in all aspects of African-American music, and played with a restless creative energy that, in his case, took in anything from raucous R&B to gentle ballads and ferocious Ayler-inspired phonics.

By the time Mingus died in 1979, Adams had recorded the first of five albums for the Italian Soul Note label, with Mingus' regular drummer Dannie Richmond and Don Pullen on piano – Cameron Brown filled the bass chair. Don't Lose Control doesn't have quite the passion and energy of Mingus at his best, but it comes pretty close. Adams and Pullen had by now established their mutual rapport and zipped from down-home roots to the avant garde at the turn of a phrase.

The next two albums Hand to Hand and Gentleman's Agreement feature trombonist Jimmy Knepper with different bass and piano. Knepper is a welcome extra voice, the energy is high, but the band aren't as tight-knit and the playing less collectively adventurous. The final two albums, recorded at the Village Vanguard in 1983, are must-haves, capturing the spirit, fire and collectivity of one of the great jazz quartets in full flow. The warm-hearted Adams died in 1992 and is in danger of being forgotten, making this re-issue timely as well as welcome.