The same New York-based line-up stated above assembled in 2018, and at short notice recorded It's Alright With Three for the Criss-Cross label under the UK-born saxophonist Will Vinson's name. But all three knew there was more to come from the collaboration that hadn't fully transpired on that pretty conventional postbop jazz recording of mostly standards. So it was decided on a joint leadership and equal share of the writing of all-original material for a new album.

It's sent the newly named Trio Grande in an entirely different direction, one that's driven largely by rock and electric jazz influences, and the musical diversity of the personnel giving it a fresh new sound and impetus. Antonio Sanchez, known for being Pat Metheny's drummer yet a formidable band leader in his own right, needs no introduction. His muscular yet less-is-more low end percussive sonic and sharpness is superbly integrated ramps up the sound without being full-on in the absence of a bassist.

Another is the Israeli-born rising star guitarist Gilad Hekselman. He generates both warmth and power at the same time on Vinson's dreamy ‘Oberkampf’ with its echoes of Pink Floyd's psych-rock ambience, as well as on his own Caribbean-esque song-like ‘Elli Yeled Tov’ and ‘Scoville’ a funky tribute to the influential guitarist John Scofield. There are gentler moments too, such as his country-ish ballad ‘Will You Let It?’.

Vinson, on paper at least, is the least rock n roll of the trio, being an alto/soprano saxophonist with very solid traditional jazz roots. But he doesn't compromise his characteristic elegance or sensitively lyrical nature. Vinson shows flexibility on the heavier sounding tracks, his flying electric-era Ornette alto on Sanchez' penetrating avant-prog tune ‘Gocta’ being a good example. Indeed it's a project that avoids the excesses of conventional jazz-rock or fusion, but still has a hard-hitting contemporary sonic all of its own.