The late and much-missed pianist and AACM (the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) co-founder Muhal Richard Abrams inspired leading contemporary pianists such as Jason Moran, Craig Taborn and Vijay Iyer so it makes perfect sense to hear his music performed in one of the settings he favoured the most: an orchestra with a number of strong soloists.

‘All-star’ can be a trite term as it doesn't necessarily guarantee star performances or, more importantly, group cohesion but this 17-piece ensemble of mostly notable bandleaders gels powerfully on appealing compositions where wavering, criss-cross melodic patterns, multiple rhythmic tangents and inventive twists of harmony reflect diverse schools and eras in the rich history of African-American music without ever being tied to one in particular. Abrams' unpredictable, mutable scores also had agile breakdowns with subtle funk undercurrents that are brilliantly conveyed here by drums and bass axis Chad Taylor and Michael Formanek, who both work effectively with a mighty bottom end supplied by a four-strong trombone section. There are several absorbing solos from brass and reeds, but this is really the triumph of the music of an enduring musical giant.