Skidmore has never hidden his espousal of the Coltrane cause. He clearly worships the man. Open him up and he’d be lettered Coltrane all the way though. So, when does inspiration overtake replication? Well, here for a start, as Skidmore kicks off on ‘Giant Steps’ at the Fleece Jazz Club in the more recent of these two live sessions, confident and poised, the tone less astringent than JC’s as he slithers through those familiar harmonies: Melling, as always, insistent and fresh, Levin plying his trade in suitably Elvin Jones-like manner. ‘Naima’ is calmer, always, Skidmore fervent and sinuous, before ‘Some Other Blues, the third piece in this all-Coltrane programme. Here Skidmore deploys the Coltrane ‘cry’ even more effectively, hustling through the arpeggios in tempestuous fashion, occasionally offering a graunching low-note thrust, as Levin prods and provokes, Melling eschewing caution in a percussive workout. This is exhilarating music. The companion set, also new to CD, dates from four years earlier and is subtitled ‘Live in Berlin’. It’s less turbulent, opening with an elegant reading of Gershwin’s ‘But Not For Me’ in the Coltrane arrangement, Gorman building a lengthy, linear improvisation buoyed up on O’Donnell’s immaculate line, the bassist then soloing with quiet aplomb. ‘Say It’ is calmer again, in ballad mode, Skidmore’s improvisation balanced, yet inexorable, jubilant almost, the control of tone more redolent of his hero, Gorman almost rhapsodic. Quite lovely. ‘Resolution’ from A Love Supreme follows, with Skidmore at full tilt, Palmer rattling along in the approved manner. Over these two sets, Skidmore shows a mastery of his chosen methodology, at one with his material and unflaggingly creative.