Since moving to the UK in 1991, the Italian-born bassist Davide Mantovani has become the rhythmic backbone for bands that cut across both jazz and world music divides such as Alex Wilson and Zoe Rahman though to Seckou Keita and Antonio Forcione. The wide spectrum of guest contributors to the recording doesn't just point to favours being returned but to a close rapport with the bassist's mostly west African and Brazilian-rooted originals. Guest vocalists from Brazil and an array of African, Indian and western classical instrumentalists might seem to cover too wide an area but it's all held together with a tasteful fusion-lite sheen. Mantovani picks out deep samba and Richard Bona-style Afro-funk/rock grooves with a warmth of tone and sensuous drive that makes sure the bottom end is always cooking. The main core of the band of pianist Zoe Rahman, guitarist Guillermo Hill and saxophonist Paul Booth play their part well, and Mantovani's arrangements are notably without bombast; even the oddly feverish Brazilian chorinho arrangement of a Bach-like cello suite (played by Ivan Hussey) works surprisingly well.