Arguably the most auspicious leader debut of the year. Gould, originally from Los Angeles has been a sideman with New Yorkers like Wallace Roney, Ralph Peterson, Louis Hayes and Jeremy Pelt. His writing here covers sextet pieces, two tracks with strings and two titles adding the master percussionist Pedrito Martinez. The rhythm team of Ben Williams and EJ plays an extremely important role in the interpretation of these intricate arrangements. The opening title track features co-producer Walden on soprano and the rather quirky-toned altoist Godwin Louis is impressive on ‘Room 416’ and ‘The Return’, (dedicated to Gould's friend, trumpeter Greg Diaz) and the closing, hard swinging ‘Three Souls’. Jeremy Pelt is in superb form on the uptempo titles and, as always, excels on his flugelhorn ballad feature, ‘Chaancé’, named after Victor Gould's wife. The strings and Myron's tenor add extra tension to ‘Apostle John’ and there's a trio dedication to bassist Ron Carter, who greatly inspired Gould during a visit to the Monk Institute. The only non-original is a 5/4 bright-tempo treatment of Wayne Shorter's classic ‘Nefertiti’. My personal favourite track on a constantly inventive and thoroughly enjoyable album is the 16-bar minor blues ‘Blue Dales’, with Martinez added to the quite brilliant rhythm section. Victor Gould deserves to become a major talent.