"Some people say it sounds more Latin. Some people say it sounds more like Weather Report," German-born, New York-based guitarist and singer Leni Stern has observed of her new album, Dance. It follows swiftly on the heels of 2018's 3, a trio release made with regular collaborators Mamadou Ba (bass) and Eladji Alioune Faye (percussion), and 2020's 4, recorded with that trio, now swollen to a quartet thanks to the addition of keyboardist Leo Genovese. The latter is from Argentina, while the former both hail from Senegal and have accompanied Stern on her ongoing exploration of West African styles and their fusion with contemporary jazz.

Stern is an immense guitarist, whether plucking on an electric six-string or a n'goni; she's also a skilful and deeply affecting vocalist, not least here on opener ‘Ya Rakhman/Prayer’ and the splendid 'Kono/Bird, which also features Malian n'goni player Harouna Sanake. But it's the ensemble quality of the playing and writing – all four members of the quartet contribute songs – that makes this such a joy.