Trumpeter and occasional vocalist Jackson Mathod is rapidly approaching star status among those UK audiences fortunate enough to catch his live shows and be exposed to the full impact of his colourful hosiery and infectiously upbeat personality.

None of this should obscure his talents as a trumpeter, composer and producer, all of which are fully on display on this EP which follows up his 2020 debut album. ‘Brasil Nut’ is an old-fashioned sultry mid-tempo bossa/rumba which provides the perfect showcase for Mathod to demonstrate his impeccable old-fashioned bebop trumpet chops and powerful upper register. His regular band, featured on two tracks, are a funk-fusion powerhouse, with Harry Pope's tumultuous drums driving tenor man Gabriele Pribetti to squalling heights on standout track ‘Matador’. Blue Lab Beats multi-intrumentalist David Mrakpor combines with smooth fusioneer Oli Howe to lay down some hip contemporary groove jazz on ‘3am’, then returns on ‘So Cold’ to play everything himself, and there's an entirely different supporting cast for ‘Come On Now’ which features Tom Misch sideman Charlie Allen's slick guitar adding to the generally sunshiney LA vibe.

Not breaking any new ground, but doing what they do very well indeed, with just the right relative apportionment of space and intensity that shows a sure production hand, and the leader's unstoppable presence detectable throughout, driving things forward to bring the party.