Kenny Barron, the surefootedly elegant Philadelphia-born pianist, has released a deluge of classy discs since his recording debut in 1968 – though he has periodically returned to quintet line-ups. This one, featuring his regular trio plus saxophonist Dayna Stephens and trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, is his first on record since 2004. Barron is a remarkable survivor, the kind of flawlessly, gracefully, and joyously musical improviser who couldn't sound dated even if he devoted his life to playing variations on ‘St Louis Blues’. Hard-bop, and a little slinky samba-playing and cannily-reworked Monk steer his choices here, but, in the Joe-Henderson-meets-Cool-School Stephens and the tonally-subtle Rodriguez, Barron has two younger interpreters of real character and original lyricism. The waltzing but rhythmically devious title-track's leisurely theme is explored by Barron in graceful runs and gently emphatic chordwork, unhurried accumulations and effortless double-time by Stephens. The solemnly atmospheric ‘A Short Journey’ is a soprano-sax lament developed in beautiful piano variations and ghostly, split-toned trumpet figures, the Caetano Veloso samba ‘Aquelo Frevo Axe’ brings the gifted Stephens close to Stan Getz, Lenny White's ‘L's Bop’ is an exhilarating workout for the horns, and a solo-piano account of Monk's ‘Reflections’ a miniature masterpiece of sparing dissonance and dancing swing. Concentric Circles doesn't exactly change jazz, but it indispensably cherishes it.