Saxophonist Halley is a noteworthy example of an independent musician who produces consistently high quality work away from the spotlight. This latest set puts him in the company of a premier rhythm section comprising of pianist Matthew Shipp, double-bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Newman Taylor Baker. It is clear from the outset that both leader and sidemen are intent on delivering an intense performance that valiantly upholds the lineage of ‘energy’ players new and old. The pieces are jointly credited to the quartet's members and the whole session has the feel of no compromise ‘spontaneous composition’ that requires advanced listening skills as well as agile playing. For the most part the group is defined by its all round strength of tone, from the leader's hard, almost steam heat holler to Shipp's precisely pummelled phrases and the combined thickness of Bisio's cottony bass and Baker's barrelling drum kit, whose sustained momentum is not overbearing, partly because of a careful, quite sparing use of cymbals. The bold character of the group more than holds the interest on lengthy pieces where ideas are explored in fine detail, but it is the left turns into a softer, almost airy lightness on the back of moments of great density that also contribute to the success of the work. Clocking in at 17 minutes, ‘The Journey’ is a beautiful ballad that has a grace as well as gravitas befitting an ensemble that is defined by its maturity and well-regulated technical ability. Much of Halley's improvising is potent, moving effectively between terse rhythmic drilling, sometimes with a touch of Joe Henderson's dryness of timbre, and longer, probing statements that have a focused drama to match his musical ambitions.