NYSQ: Sleight of Hand – bringing back that old bop magic

The members of the New York Standards Quartet have all operated at the sharp end of the post-bop spectrum, writing their own material and leading their own groups, but this project, born in Japan 10 years ago, sees them use that shared language to explore the standard repertoire that they were reared on. The deft, satisfyingly open, at times telepathic exchanges here between saxophonist Tim Armacost, pianist David Berkman, bassist Daiki Yasukagawa and drummer Gene Jackson, on well-seasoned chestnuts like Monk's Ask Me Now, Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood, and Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You, prove joyously and conclusively that, contrary to certain opinion on this side of Atlantic, there is life in the old standards yet. whirlwindrecordings.com