It’s no surprise that the opening title track of Donlon’s fine new release kicks on with a Latin swing – he’s long been associated with the likes of Roberto Pla. But Kashasha also touches base with many of Donlon’s other voices: on ‘Saraband’, urged by a winsome Siegel, he taps a modernist, chamber vibe (Debussy and Satie underwrite much of Donlon’s feel) yet Erroll Garner would have loved his long, sensuous meander into the opening theme of a warmly straightahead ‘My Foolish Heart’. The album closes with another cover, Kenny Wheeler’s typically lyrical ‘The Jigsaw’, but it is Donlon’s own writing that lights up this satisfying release: ‘Oetzi’ is dark and fractured, chords left to resonate and decay against Hutton’s spare bass and Calderazzo’s ominous drums, but then we’re into the boppish dash of ‘The Crucible’ (abetted by an especially perky Siegel). This seems to be Donlon’s first group recording (the gorgeous ‘Ashia’ was a solo outing), which is bizarre considering the number of CDs turned out by, dare one say, lesser talents. So all credit to Issie Barratt and Fuzzy Moon for getting the man into the studio.