With emphasis on strong playing and group interaction, this is a real `jazz' album (Surman's first for ECM) recorded at New York's Avatar Studios. A powerful and exciting album from the great British horn-player John Surman who surrounds himself with an all-star cast. Surman is at his best on both soprano and baritone saxophones, and the group is deeply anchored in a shared musical experience. Soulful ballads, hard driving up-tempo tunes and fiery improvisations are all to be found here.