What a great CD with which to start a new year! Every Evans recording seems so fresh. Each of his groups has a character of its own. This particular line-up, recorded live at Smoke, is outstanding. Both hornmen have distinctive styles. Sean Jones impresses more on every date and he's particularly good on the opening, edgily shifting Dwayne Burno tune ‘Devil Eyes’, a harmonically dark reworking of ‘Angel Eyes’ – the whole CD in fact, is dedicated to the much-missed bassist – and Evans' melodic ‘Simply Green’. JD Allen hasn't had anything released for ages and he's at his very best here. His tone is so round, his sound so pure. His reading of Philadelphia organist Trudy Pitts' ballad ‘Anysha’ is especially moving. But his solos at every tempo are wonderfully melodic and he always swings, with traces of early Coltrane in his conception. Listen to him on ‘Meant to Shine’ and, in contrast, Paul Motian's jagged ‘Mumbo Jumbo’ with its relatively free feel, with Sean matching him all the way. This record has the best contribution yet heard from the excellent young bassist Lucques Curtis, whose sound – and that of the whole group – has been perfectly captured here by producer Paul Stache. It's the first time Evans has ever used Bill Stewart and he is quite superb. He's thoroughly inventive throughout, with great cymbal work and locked in beautifully with the bass, especially on the two trio tunes, ‘How High the Moon’ and Miles' ‘The Theme’. The final track features potentially the most interesting jazz singer this writer has heard in some time, Joanna Pascale. Remember the name. But the CD's most shining star is Evans himself. Harmonically and rhythmically, he is always so adventurous. Recommended.