Keith Javors, as player and producer, was one of the surprise highlights of the recent Coming Together album, which featured people like Chris Potter and Terell Stafford paying tribute to a young composer named Brendan Romaneck, who died at the age of 24. Here he partners one of Russia's best jazzmen of the past 20 years, Oleg Kireyev, whose tenor style is often relatively low-key, but who plays with deep feeling and sensitivity, best illustrated by his 10 minute ballad feature, ‘What is Love’, which is movingly bluesy. But Oleg also has a ‘free’ side evident on the third track, ‘Springtime’, where he spars creatively with fellow Russian, Mingus Big Band – and big-toned – bassist Boris Kozlov. Javors work throughout is impressive. He makes a most effective use of space, his chords contain constantly interesting combinations of notes, he swings in a way few pianists seem to any more. Old-school yet completely contemporary. Particularly noteworthy are his revolving vamps on the tune ‘Happenstance’. Kozlov is a tower of strength throughout, while EJ confirms his status as arguably the most interesting new drummer around. ‘Rhyme and Reason’ is one of those records you'll find yourself playing often when you can't decide what you want to listen to!