This live album, recorded in the Spring, is probably best seen as an introduction to where Terry Callier is now, before his profile gets boosted with the forthcoming Massive Attack collaboration, Hidden Conversation. Recorded live at the Jazz Cafe in March, this is all about Callier as respected elder statesman.

Entirely committed to the transcendent power of music, Callier is an adept practitioner of his blend of folk and jazz as a vessel for a spiritual message. This is a fine record of his current work, with a good band getting the best out a man in good voice and good humour, peppered with nuggets about his idol, John Coltrane. The issue is whether you ‘get’ him - clearly, those who do, near-worship him. The trouble is that this is some fairly rich stuff. You won’t get through a song without many exhortations to peace & love, and if it doesn’t sweep you up in the message, you’re stood looking at the grandaddy of too many acid jazz acts.

Richard Davie