2009's From There To Here marked the arrival of the Cuban violin virtuoso on the British jazz scene, and this excellent album fully consolidates his standing. If that debut skipped its way into life this one positively explodes from the superb opener ‘Danza De Los Spiritus’, which could easily be a floor filler if it falls into the hands of the right DJ. The sound is dense, percussive and kinetic, the rippling keyboard lines and ‘hand drums’ meshing to conjure up an image of Jean-Luc Ponty in Senegal as the leader lays down a marker on the idiomatic breadth that defines the whole set. There is thus Motown soul, edgy funk and misty roots reggae – the intensely atmospheric ‘Debbie’s One Drop', a tribute to Debbie Purdy, Puente's late wife and courageous activist on assisted suicide – but none of these elements overshadows the music's Afro-Cuban foundation, which can be heard in the adroit placing of the clave rhythm and montuno licks within instruments other than congas and piano. With regard to his improvisations, Puente has lost none of the flair that brought him to attention in the first place, but he is arguably more focused and occasionally very concise, and that sits well with the greater melodic richness of the bulk of the compositions. There has never been any doubt over Puente's ability, but this offering, with its tracks well sequenced and excellently engineered, marks his graduation to a bandleader, arranger and composer to match the accomplished soloist.