This major musical gem just dropped from the vaults of the German radio station NDR and deserves all the brouhaha of a major label release and the attendant attention it garners, with major features in consumer magazines and huge airplay on the jazz programmes.

Of course, it won’t get any of that, but here are both Hubbard and Tyler, plus Sharpe and Hayes, in what is surely one of the most exciting, stimulating albums that these protagonists have appeared on. A big statement to be sure, but is backed up by the remarkable level of invention, exuberance and sheer musical excitement generated in these breathtaking performances by two bona fide jazz greats at the top of their game.

Quite simply, they perform here at a level here that exceeds anything they have ever recorded. This is once-in-a-lifetime stuff; quite why it should have happened on this particular June night in 1986 may be something to do with the fact they had been delayed, and wanted to repay a loyal audience who had stuck it out waiting for them. Who knows? But from the opening ‘Inner Glimpse’ it is clear this was not going to be an ordinary performance. They hit the one with the kind of intensity most artists use to climax their performance: here it’s their starting point, where do they take it from here? Ever upward is the answer. Hubbard is simply awe inspiring with a long solo of exhilarating invention that builds and builds. Tyner has a trio feature next, ‘Latino Suite,’ and quite simply exceeds his remarkable performances on what are regarded as his two most memorable albums, Enlightenment and Atlantis.

As climax piles upon climax the creative intensity never falters on this amazing double CD set – here is jazz at its highest level of invention and creativity.