Album: Keith Tippet Octet, From Granite to Wind (Ogun)

What's great about this rare new ensemble-recording by pianist/composer Tippett is the way it runs together swinging, South African influenced grooves with free-jazz freak-outs.

It's a terrific band, with Paul Dunmall and Ben Waghorn among the saxes, Pete Fairclough on drums and Julie Tippetts on vocals. In the opening movement, there's a strong sense of Tippett summarising his career; later, though, there are extended vocal techniques as dated as an old kipper tie.