Cantilena

The quartet known as First House bettered the UK jazz scene for much of the 80s. Cantilena was their second and final album, all but forgotten in the deluge of releases ECM has put out since, but this and its predecessor (1986’s Érendira) are top-flight sessions that deserve a fresh spotlight. Altoist Ken Stubbs punches holes in the soul of every tune, Django Bates elicits scintillating harmonies from the piano, and bassist Mike Hutton and Drummer Martin France hold down the fort with exuberant rhythming. The compositions, too, are exceptionally resilient.