This is an all-Canadian quintet with veteran pianist Senensky the best-known name. Given their chosen monicker, it’s no surprise that they follow the broad pathway laid out by the Messengers and continued by the present-day US Cookers. They say they’re inspired by the music of Silver and Mobley, and they have certainly absorbed the essentials of the hard bop style and successfully applied their own grasp to it.

The opener ‘Undisputed’ is by saxophonist Oliver and has a strong, surging motif, its composer peering through the undergrowth effectively, as does Hamel. The trumpeter also does well on his own ‘In The Paint’, played over a funk rhythm, building a neatly edgy solo, as Oliver follows, Senensky – who has performed with Art Blakey - having played his Silver-like tremolos earlier. The title track which has a neat zigzag shape, reveals more of the pianist’s capricious keyboard command and creative spirit, with Poole soloing and Coleman setting the groove for the anthem-like ending. Senensky seems full of surprises, enigmatic on ‘Blues Down The Stairs’ and is a welcome contributor throughout the album, driving or reflective as required while Oliver has his best moments on ‘Pockets’.

The band toured this material around Canada’s West Coast last year and it shows. These eight pieces, all band originals, stack up well and re-pay repeated listening. Hemel is the band’s standout soloist on this hearing, with a nice, crunchy tone and a pleasing level of fluency. Just right for Ronnie Scott’s, I’d say. If only.