After launching the likes of Ambrose Akinmusire, Robert Glasper and Kris Davis onto the international scene, the Spanish label Fresh Sound New Talent celebrates its 30 year anniversary in 2023. This project, helmed by Bristol-based Alex Merritt, takes a look at things a little closer to home, leading a mostly UK-based group of musicians through 10 new compositions.

Common Threads is a musical potluck party, as a large cast of players from the boppier end of the UK scene are encouraged to bring their own compositions to the two sessions (the switching of formats, from chordless quartets to nonets, is reminiscent of tenorist Alex Hitchcock's 2021 release Dream Band, also on FSNT). Yet the dialect they use is remarkably similar, from individual solo languages, to charts that build around some of the best large ensemble innovators, recalling Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler and Loose Tubes.

The result is a sax-heavy release (particularly on some of the unison lines, where a different combination would have added something timbrally different) that, at times, feels that it could have been scored out for a fuller larger ensemble, and polished a little more. There are moments of respite from the intense angles; Adele Sauros, who contributes opening nonet ‘Erased’ and quartet ‘Simplicity’ is a really interesting voice, new to me. A bracingly fresh album, and a good summary of what Fresh Sound is all about.