Jeff Williams’ sensitive cymbals and light-touch pulse reflect four decades of drumming with the high and mighty and a CV ranging from Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie to Joe Lovano and Dave Liebman. On this live recording from London’s Vortex, he takes on the tricky territory of a piano-less quartet whose original thematic material stands mid-way between Ornette Coleman’s boppier lines and the lyrical side of Don Cherry. He gets the balance between bustle and control just right, filling in the spaces while allowing the music room to breathe. His skitter of brushes and double-time swing on ‘Fez’ is an understated highlight. He is greatly helped by the solid walk, firm lines and all-round sensitivity of John Hébert. The bassist has a gorgeous tone, puts pulse first and foremost and keeps the counterpoint firmly in check. Trumpeter Duane Eubanks adds a brittle melodic spike to the taste and poise one would expect from a musician who tours regularly with the big bands of Dave Holland and Orrin Evans, alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher is fluent, fruity-toned and mathematically inclined and both are sensitive and simpatico on their many duets.