Now 73, Abate is a familiar figure for British jazz audiences as he tours here regularly. We know him mostly for his assertive alto, rooted in bebop, and for his often combative style. He had already recorded with Barron for a 1996 album and wanted this time to focus exclusively on the pianist's compositions, so what better way to build on that intention than by encouraging the composer himself and his current trio to join him for this double CD?

If Barron is his usual unhurried and lucid self, Abate is the album's principal voice, soloing fluently and well on alto, tenor, soprano, baritone and flute, while also popping up in harmonised passages as on ‘And Then Again’, a perky, hard-swinging theme which combines alto with baritone. The opening ‘Sun Shower’ sets the pace over a moderate Latin pulse, with Abate first soloing in surging fashion on tenor, followed by Barron himself, graceful as ever, before bass and drums exchange ideas and the principals return. ‘Cook's Bay’ follows, a flute feature at ballad tempo, Barron typically nimble as Abate reverts to alto, sinuous in Phil Woods fashion. ‘Innocence’ deploys his soprano, with multi-part sax-section figures interjected, Barron intricate over the steady rhythmic pattern.

Abate clearly thought hard about which instruments to deploy on all 13 pieces, modifying chords and interludes, and writing all those harmony parts and over-dubbed passages. These came through well, typically, on ‘Bud-Like’, a twin-alto workout which evinces the kind of solo fire that's evident when Abate plays live. As might be expected, the playing is top-notch throughout.