Set up with the blessing of Chick Corea before his death in 2021, this transatlantic project was delayed by Covid, and John Beasley was unable to get together with the Frankfurt band until after Corea’s passing. But the idea of big band versions of Corea’s music from the Return to Forever fusion period is a captivating one. Having heard the Frankfurt band live at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2016, I can think of few better ensembles to bring this idea to life and the first few bars of the opening ‘Captain Senor Mouse’ on this album more than justify that feeling.

Scales’ guitar and Beasley’s keyboards intertwine to give a sense of the original material with the dynamic contribution of the band booting it all along. Beasley never copies Corea’s keyboard style but he nods in the right direction, and Hans Glawischnig has a similar appropriation of Stanley Clarke’s approach, to make the rhythm team work well, along with Hochstroder’s energetic drumming. The spiky theme of the more relaxed ‘No Mystery’ might have been written for big band, and Beasley’s chart contrasts small group segments with subtly placed orchestral backing sections, a flute-led orchestral passage creating a beautiful textural contrast.

‘Vulcan Worlds’ is not so much about Mr Spock, but a chance for the band to build to a dramatic climax opposite Scales’ guitar. ‘You’re Everything’ is a lyrical and beautiful band chart before transforming into an energetic ‘Fiesta’, and the album climaxes with the closing eponymous title track. A great tribute by a thoroughly creative European/American collaboration.