The devious rhythms, angular lines and tense emotions that mark the late pianist/composer Andrew Hill’s music are embedded in New York’s contemporary left field. Ron Horton’s double album A Prayer for Andrew captures the essence without resorting to mimicry. The oblique harmonies remain as does the slightly other-worldly vibe, but fresh voicings and a different cast of musicians take the music on a slightly different track. Horton is the standout, but saxophonists Marty Ehrlich and John O Gallagher are fluent and thoughtful and the rhythm section is springy and tight.

The album opens with the short hymnal 'A Prayer for Andrew', written by trumpeter Horton, and brought to life by the leader’s strength of tone. Two Hill covers come next, 'Erato', recorded by Blue Note in 1965, and released on the 1996 album Pax, and 'Venture Inward', from the 1968 album Grass Roots; the first expands the original trio version to a quintet, the second sticks closer to the original script.

Elsewhere, Horton’s originals range from the lilting warmth of ‘Home’ and the pulsing urgency of ‘Scrum’ to the unfolding soundscape of the mesmerising ‘Andrew-ology', a highlight of pinched trumpet slurs, brassy warbles and stark piano chords. The set is completed by five more re-worked Hill covers including the bustling '15-8’ and brooding 'Tough Love'.

Horton joined the late pianist/composer’s sextet between 1998-2003 – the trumpeter plays on Hill’s album Dusk – though, like late pianist and friend Frank Kimborough, Horton had been inspired by Hill’s music since his early teens. Thus grounded, they have created music that respects Hill’s heritage while creating something new.