Cuong Vu and Metheny have danced around each other for years, but this is the first time Metheny has played on Vu's home turf, joining Vu's trio on seven cuts, five written by the trumpeter. These are subsequently dirtier, freer and more provoking contexts than you may readily associate with Metheny. But, of course, Metheny's more than up for the challenge: the more Vu drenches himself in echo, like some post-millenium Miles, as on ‘Acid Kiss’, the more Metheny kicks back; if Vu goes manically post bop laying down the longest, fastest of lines, Metheney's right there with him, clean and sharp as on ‘Not Crazy (Just Giddy Upping)’. Vu can do moody when he wishes (‘Seeds of Doubt’) and there's Metheny again, thoughtful, meditative. And sitting in there with them are Takeishi and Paul laying a bedrock for the frontmen to climb ever higher upon. Ok, it can verge on both the melodramatic and navel gazing (just what do the ‘Tiny Little Pieces’ add up to?), but the sheer scale of the combined imagination of these two artists sucks you into their world.