Alison Rayner’s quintet has deep roots: she and Deirdre Cartwright have played together since they were both in legendary feminist prog/punk band Jam Today back in the 1970s, and their association with Brit keyboard legend Steve Lodder and saxophonist McLoughlin stretches back over 30 years. Buster Birch is the (relatively) new kid on the block, but the close relationship between his dramatic, punchy drumming and Rayner’s rock-solid fat-toned bass is at the heart of this set of live recordings captured at The Vortex. The ARQ itself is a long-standing ensemble with its own accessibly idiosyncratic take on jazz-rock that’s flexible enough to capture a range of moods, from the tumbling 6/8 of ‘Espirítu Libre’ to contemplative ambiance of ‘All Will Be Well’ to the odd-number boogaloo of ‘Semaphore’. Everyone brings a ton of personality to the performance, from Cartwright’s fusion of jazz language and 1970s proggy wig-outs to Lodder’s rippling virtuosity and McLoughlin’s crisp, cleanly centered tone. It’s a pleasure to hear the band deliver their vision with the confidence of intent that can only be earned from long association out on the road - this recording will delight fans with its assertive vitality, and attract some new ticket sales for their next tour as well.