New Zealand drummer/producer Mananza's fourth solo release is a paen of praise for the vibrantly forward-looking musical community of his adopted hometown of London, and so it's appropriate that he's attracted an all-star line-up of young UK talent to realise his vision. The basic template is an updated take on the punchy, muscular horn-led fusion pioneered in NYC and LA by the likes of the Brecker Brothers: George Crowley and James Copus are a world-class frontline by any standards, and tear into the samba-flavoured vamp of ‘Big Deal 2' with the necessary aplomb. ‘Portobello Superhero’ pays tribute to the sweaty intensity of the capitals' jazz-dance club scene: the retro TV-theme feel, with powerhouse drumming from the leader under lush keyboard textures, creates a fittingly expensive vibe. ‘Brixton Blues’ breaks the mould with a more reflective, odd-meter groove providing a launchpad for an atmospheric contribution from Ashley Henry, while ‘London’ has a relaxed take on broken beat that develops into some tricky metric shifts. Throughout the album, Manzanza's drumming demonstrates an innate melodic quality that avoids any tendency towards bombast and keeps proceedings soulful and slick throughout. ‘Crisis-Opportunity’ is the surprise, a free-time group improvisation with bravura inputs from Henry and the leader under dreamy unison horn lines that makes a memorable closing statement.