Today, anything by the late lamented Brass Project of John Warren and John Surman is worth grabbing without a second's hesitation. Until now, we have only had ECM's critically acclaimed The Brass Project, recorded in April 1992 and released in 1993, as the sole representation of this remarkable 11-piece ensemble. I've just done a quick check on the usual internet portals and for those interested in acquiring this album today, be prepared to fork out £345 for the CD. That's why this previously unreleased ‘lost’ album, recorded live in June 1993 (no other details, but it was mastered by Jan Erik Kongshaug at the Rainbow Studios in Oslo), is such a snip at £14.99 – a collector's item in the making if ever there was one. Surman and composer and arranger John Warren had previously collaborated on Surman's 1971 classic Tales of the Algonquin which provided the inspiration for the ideas they developed with the Brass Project. Traveller's Tales provides a compelling companion piece to the ECM recording – more lusty and energised than the studio recording, there are no track duplications and it's well recorded by Surman's son, Ben. Inspired by the tales of Warren's grandfather, a soldier of fortune and world traveller in the 19th century, it is not programmatic but certain episodes in his life have stimulated Warren's compositional juices to produce some powerful ensemble writing that inspires some of Surman's finest playing on record. Also in top form are Chris Laurence and John Marshall, co-conspirators in getting the best out of the saxophonist in what is already a classic of British jazz.