The debut EP from trombonist, arranger, and composer Nathaniel Cross transcends any singular place or time with gorgeously arranged horns, its upright harmonies conjuring the grandeur and breadth of Black diasporic musics, embodied in Cross' Caribbean family history and south-east London musical upbringing. This is heard via the West African and Afro-Cuban percussion (djembe, conga, ganga), funky basslines, gospel keys, blues guitar and strutting horns. Cross's composing and arranging are largely inspired by his scholarship of mid 20th-century jazz greats, and he braids in bruk, calypso, dancehall, neo-soul, and hip hop, building on the converging, cumulative evolution of jazz.

Richie Garrison, Dylan Jones and Cross shine throughout and carry the crisp bebop choruses, peeling them apart and passing them between each other, their short solos training jazzers would be wise to take note of. The first half meditates on loss and adversity, and the second on growth through overcoming them. The final track, 'Who Looks Inside, Awakes, which opens with Simon Mitchell's organ solo, evokes redemption and hard-won resolution. Cross's tunes have a triumphant spirit and cerebral cool. Coupled with the production craftsmanship, they'll keep music lovers dancing and listening close.