What could be the first supergroup of the post-pandemic era is actually the reincarnation of Joshua Redman's original mid-1990s quartet. Recording just one album together – the saxophonist's third CD MoodSwing from 1994 – these eminent Generation X-ers were together about a year and a half before striking out on their own unique creative pathways. Redman and Mehldau have been the closest collaborators since the ensemble split, and they show an innate empathy on the new recording RoundAgain.

With originals split between band members – Redman (three), Mehldau (two) McBride and Blade one each – things are kept tightly structured and strong themes hit convivial grooves for the most part. There's also a consistency in spite of differences in the writing: Redman's guileful R&B vamp-led ‘Right Back Round Again’ and gospel-jazz pleaser ‘Silly Little Love Song’ through to the Monk-ish playful cabaret-swing of McBride's ‘Floppy Diss’ featuring a Redman's Roland Kirk-like soprano. Blade's spacey ‘Your Part to Play’ could be something he might have contributed to the Wayne Shorter quartet songbook. The soloing is of a very high calibre as you'd expect, with McBride a notable contributor in particular. There's certainly room for the band to grow and loosen up as a collective and we can only hope there's not so long a wait until live touring comes back on the agenda. In the meantime Round Again works as a satisfying appetiser.