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Ostensibly another piano-led small-group - and in theory a far more traditional one, featuring standards, no electrics, and often a conventional solos-in-turn format. But this terrific British disc breaks most of the rules it appears to be following, and emits a real collective energy and identity.
Though the session operates within a piano-trio format, the leader is the drummer, Bryan Spring - a performer of a fiercely adversarial virtuosity who challenges every comfortable assumption. He was the roaring engine in several influential bands on the 1970s and 1980s UK circuit, including Stan Tracey's. Spring isn't on the road as much now, but this trio (with excellent pianist Mark Edwards and bassist Andy Cleyndert) has been at work for 15 years, and it sounds as if they inhabit each other's innermost thoughts.
Things sounds pretty familiar at the start, with the late Joe Henderson's rolling, vampy Waltz for Zweetie, but Spring's hissing hi-hat suggests the wilder currents underneath. Then Coltrane's slow-bluesy Equinox rolls out soulful chords over Cleyndert's earthy bassline, and pianist Edwards starts dangling dancing, lightly-dissonant figures over Spring's peremptory rattles and thumps. Count Basie's M Squad sounds like a straight boogying swinger, but Spring's rifle-shot accents make it something altogether scarier. Detour Ahead is a lovely group conversation on a ballad, and the trio piece Aconite sounds like a group improvisation of simple but eloquent power, in its low trilling piano against sea-swelling cymbals and nimble bass phrasing.
Spring's fearless inventiveness also ignites Bill Evans' uptempo The Opener and McCoy Tyner's Wise One, with his hard, muscular sound and explosiveness theoretically inappropriate to the latter's pensive mood, but in practice completely reinventing it. A drum virtuoso who's also a complete musician, and with a band to match.

*****John Fordham The Guardian

This is the real stuff. Music brimming with beauty and excitement from one of the most captivating and creative trios playing today. In a world of veneer and five - minute - wonders this music is a profound and lasting statement about jazz at its best. The tunes are fabulous and in turn they cook, sizzle and zing with commitment and joy. Hang on by the seat of your pants in Bryan Spring's version of Count Basie's 'M-Squad', then be hypnotised the heart-stopping and touching beauty of John Coltrane's 'Wise One'. The Trio has been playing together for years and it's obvious that all three musicians know, admire and trust each other. Bryan is thrilled to play with Mark Edwards and Andrew Cleyndert and honoured by their commitment and enthusiasm. He regards them as "phenomenal" artists. The synchronicity is magical and often transcends the terrestrial in their telling of each tune's story Bryan Spring, Andrew Cleyndert and Mark Edwards have individual musical histories that encompass all forms of music and their pedigrees are amazing. Bryan Spring's life alone reads like a history of jazz and he' s played with the greats from both sides of the Atlantic - including Count Basie's singer Joe Williams, George Coleman, Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Ben Webster, James Moody, Jean-Luc Ponty, Joe Pass, Jon Hendricks; as well as our own Tubby Hayes, Annie Ross, Joe Harriott and of course 10 years with Stan Tracey. He has been blessed with lessons from Philly Joe Jones and by encouragement and praise from Elvin Jones, Victor Lewis and Mickey Roker. Andrew Cleyndert and Mark Edwards are in constant demand and have been chosen by many globe - trotting giants to spread their considerable talents through Asia, Australia and America. 'Spirit of Spring' is well titled. Each track is imbued with Bryan Spring's own fierce, sweet, questing spirit - borne out of his own journey through loss and tragedy towards an answer in the beauty of music. Bryan Spring is playing better than ever. His blistering talent and extraordinary technique are legendary, but there is now a powerful new mastery and delicacy. The Trio now choose to play acoustically whenever possible - a daring decision but a tribute to their united desire for the truthful, spontaneous and exciting music found here. As Mickey Roker said to Bryan Spring - "You' ve got it all". These tunes show that all three of this trio have everything.