Three-quarters of this quartet debuted on Manu Katché (ECM) in 2012, when the trumpeter was Nils Petter Molvaer, but management of his own career meant he was unable to fulfil Katché's busy tour schedule (for example, the band has played 130-140 gigs in this past year). Katché turned to his friend Paolo Fresu for a recommendation, who suggested his protégé Luca Aquino who gradually took over the trumpet spot during this past year. I was at the New Morning Club in Paris when this was recorded, and this album is an accurate aural ‘photograph’ of what went down on that memorable night. The group have remarkable cohesion after so much road time together, yet when it comes to solo time, everyone impresses without recourse to wide-eyed musical calisthenics by making their contribution count. Aquino has a poise and elegance that is almost disquieting in one so young, while Brunborg, for all the variety of projects he has played in, including his own, has never sounded more at home and more at ease than with this band. The revelation is the UK's Jim ‘James’ Watson, a Katché discovery from his TV talent show who has blossomed under the drummer's leadership – there is considerable evidence of artistic growth between this and his last album with Katché in 2012. The leader, who looks 36 but is 56, is a seasoned pro from the rock world, who has toured and recorded with so many superstars that for reasons of space mean we can only namecheck one or two such as Sting, Jeff Beck and Peter Gabriel. There is, of course, a reason why he is the drummer of choice to the stars – he is truly exceptional. A classically trained percussionist who has worked with symphony orchestras, his sight-reading skills stood him in good stead for recording session work which led to touring with the great and the good. He has the priceless gift to create a rhythmic feel that inspires those around him to another level. It is something that only the truly great drummers possess, and it is what makes this record special. He may be one of the great rock drummers, but now he is one of the great jazz drummers too.