One of the quiet pleasures of recent years has been watching the amazing talent of this unit evolve, first as the young group that grounded trumpeter Tomasz Stanko’s leap to superstar sales figures and every award in the book, then as their own unit, releasing two superb discs and playing a revelatory Melbourne concert last year. Wasilewski has a truly gossamerlike touch, even by ECM’s lyrical, reflective standard, but now the years on the road as a leader seem to have drawn him into a more direct, overtly melodic area. Album number three sees the piano sing like it very rarely does, mixing originals with clever choices by Ornette Coleman, Hermeto Pascoal and Paul Bley. Just magical.

Richard Mohr is a guest reviewer.