Donegan is Irish, but is based in London where he runs a local sextet. This though, is his Irish band, drawn from all four corners of the island of Ireland and quite stirring in both its energetic responses to Donegan's original compositions and the sheer panache of the solo extemporisations.

All 10 pieces are his, their heft ranging from the ‘annoyingly catchy’ ‘Shake It Up,’ in sleeve-note writer Brian Priestley's words, which blasts off like a fusillade, the various horns mixing it, much like a bar-room brawl, Hamilton at full tilt and the brothers Buckley slugging it out. In contrast, the title track's lyrical theme is taken gently by Hamilton on flugel, the saxes quietly chording at the end. ‘Raffy's Blues,’ named for a grandson, features some assertive alto by Michael Buckley, clearly an extrovert, no-holds-barred sort of a player, this with its own distinctive metre, Hamilton again prominent. ‘Sole Shuffle’ has an understated Latin rhythm, Donegan's evocative piano its standout and Bodwell getting his sole bass solo. ‘Got A Spring In My Step’ lives up to its title; it's lively in a post-bop fashion. In that each piece has merit and interest, it's the sheer elan of the playing that stays in the mind.

Both Buckleys are formidable improvisers, direct and forceful, and Hamilton as one knew from earlier encounters is a very considerable figure in Northern Irish jazz and fully lives up to his reparation here. That said, it's Donegan's album after all, his compositional flair well demonstrated and his pianism intriguing yet poised. More please!