Graceful, passionate and authorative, the sound of Stan Sulzmann is established from the opening bars of the first piece on this unique 2-CD set of ‘live in the studio’ mid-1970s recordings rescued from the archives.

Collectively they capture the playing of a gifted saxophonist, composer and arranger, supported by a trio that oft sounds like an orchestra. Stan plays soprano sax on ‘GRS’ a meditative piece that breaks into double tempo as John Taylor’s keyboards and Ron Mathewson’s bass seek their own space.

It’s the start of a journey into more mysterious worlds as depicted in the hypnotic ‘Anagram’ during which the Mathewson/Levin duo exchange symbols and cymbals, as if searching for a way out of a secret underworld. ‘On Loan With Gratitude’ is even more eerie, full of desperate wails and piano clinks like the keys of a gaoler promising freedom that comes only to the true believer.

So you can see how these remarkable performances can set your imagination running wild, diving into uncharted seas of sound with Stan’s flute piping us aboard. His tenor sax issues more stentorian commands on ‘Good News’, while ‘Adelphi’ has the soprano sax becalmed in a moonlit melody.

There is mutiny in the rigging on ‘You Know What I Mean’ and more to come aboard the second disc with its cheery ‘Flying Scots’ and another version of ‘On Loan With Gratitude.’

As Stan says in the CD notes about his Quartet, “It remains having been a wonderful musical experience and a great memory.”