Audiopile Review: Five compositions of confident and visionary playing by a septet of musicians conversing fluently in a language both old and new. It is clear (as with many Birchall recordings) that this is a letter of love and appreciation to John Coltrane, melding the gentler tones of Ballads with the ecstatic freedom of Ascension. Reuniting the quartet that played on 2022 standout Spiritual Progressions (with additional percussionists, as well as British Jazz stalwart and Coltrane devotee Alan Skidmore) there is a feeling of familiarity, explored with a reinvigorated curiosity. Contemporary jazz of the highest order, mixing the past with the present and looking hopefully towards the future. Fans of Pharoah Sanders, Billy Harper and, of course, John Coltrane, take note

Nat Birchall returns with a new studio album with an expanded Unity Ensemble. Six original compositions played by a seven-piece group featuring the legendary UK tenor saxophonist, Alan Skidmore and guest percussionist Mark Wastell.

Both musicians joined the group onstage at a John Coltrane tribute concert at London’s Café Oto last year, the resulting performance showing just how compatible all the musicians were, so Nat thought it would be propitious to record the group in the studio with their special guests.

Both Nat and Alan are Coltrane devotees of the highest order, but they each have their own individual style, and at the sessions their playing complimented each other’s beautifully. With no trace of anyone attempting to “outdo” the other one the recording dates were a testament to the whole group’s selfless approach to music making.