Criss Cross boss-producer Gerry Teekens is astonishingly loyal to his artistes. Take Russian trumpeter Sipiagin, for years now an in-demand New York resident who came here recently with the Mingus Big Band and who, a couple of years ago, was handpicked by Dave Holland for his sextet. This is now his ninth leader album for the label since the turn of the century. I hear he repaid Teekens' belief by making him guest of honour at a recent jazz festival outside of Moscow and introduced him to a whole new generation of brilliant young Russian musicians whose enthusiasm blew him away. But, back to this latest CD, which is arguably Sipiagin's best yet for the label. There are eight originals – four by Alex, two by Colley, a relatively sedate one by Potter and one by Alex's wife Monday Michiru, whose father was altoist Charlie Mariano.

The piano-less einstrumentation means that most of the songs are chord-less and, after often clarion-call ensemble statements, the musicians have complete freedom of improvisational expression. They've all worked together before at various times and the mutual trust is obvious in the various tracks, which are complex and varied in texture and meter. All four are among the very best in jazz today and are at the top of their game. Potter has seldom sounded better, Colley is constantly setting the pace (his tune ‘Once’ is particularly free in form), Harland shows how subtle his drive can be and Sipiagin's compositions and solos here, inspired by tours of the Far East, combine his New York positive professionalism with his innate Russian soulfulness.