For two decades the New York-born, Montreal-based drummer-percussionist John Hollenbeck has led a dynamic and inspired multi-Grammy nominated large ensemble that synthesises the worlds of post-minimalist American concert music and an all-embracing experimental yet lyrical, contemporary jazz.

The new release is a side project that situates a percussion quartet within an orchestral setting, that of the widely acclaimed German NDR Big Band. The ambitious nature of the project is nothing unusual for Hollenbeck. He joins a pair of tuned percussionists: Matt Moran, a co-founding member of Hollenbeck’s Claudia Quintet, and the unique Mexican-born vibraphonist Patricia Brennan, as well as the Argentinian fellow drummer/percussionist Marcio Doctor, an NDR member who had the original idea for the unfamiliar instrumental format.

Tracks range from intense symphonic-like pieces: ‘Shaking Piece’ evolves from a series of tremolos, the insistent percussive sequences of ‘Drum Hocket’ and ‘Pure Poem’, through to motoring Quincy Jones-like noir with quirkily abstract voice and instrumental interjections on ‘Owts Hgis’, and the exotic mix of disjunct brass melodies, jutting vamps and latin-fuelled percussion on ‘Cool Code’. The mood softens up starting with the sepulchral ‘Entitlement’ and last track ‘Sum’ with its lushly sustained orchestral pads draped in NDR saxman Julius Gawlik’s piercing alto. At times the recording can become slightly too overbearing in its intensity, which is not something typical of Hollenbeck’s previous output. That being said, there’s no shortage of penetrating, surprisingly inventive moments to savour along the way.