Originally released in the 1990s on cassette and CD on titles such as Square Groove, Mountain People and Heavy Plant Crossing, chances are these exemplary recordings will be new to the majority of listeners. Rising, the first album of a trilogy, leaves you wanting more. This music, although 30 years old, stands up well to contemporary scrutiny.

Quite simply it has not dated, and paradoxically underlines why Julian Nicholas has been described as “something of a well kept secret.” Had Rising enjoyed greater currency in the 1990s, the recorded evidence here suggests that would be far from a secret, well kept or otherwise. The intro to ‘Mountain People,’ grabs your attention with reverb encased soprano sax “cry” that echoes through imaginary mountains and valleys. Here is something different, well conceived and rhythmically vibrant, the legato tenor sax theme seems longer than the breath available to play it, but does not detract – composition and conception make for a totally compelling performance. ‘Lucky Star’ follows in similar, but not the same) mood and concept, rhythmically sophisticated with Nicholas on soprano this time, while ‘A Thousand Ships’ maintains this “trip factor’ feel”, as Pat Metheny calls it: a rhythmic forward momentum that takes you on a journey with melodic and harmonic twists and turns, analogous to scenes en route.

This may be Brit-jazz from three decades ago, but it vibrates with compelling relevance in the present.