French bassist Stéphane Kerecki, who launches this album at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club on 15 June (featuring his trio with the excellent guest Tony Malaby as an extra sax), is one of the fascinating European jazz prospects of the 21st century. He's worked with former Steve Lacy partner Steve Potts and many others, as well as performing for years with Algerian singer Djamel Allam, building a familiarity with north-African rhythms that is audible here. Houria ("freedom" in Arabic) is reminiscent of countryman and bassist Henri Texier's evocative music in its taut group feeling, colourful themes and dynamic balance between composition and improvisation. The title track rocks over a driving north-African 6/8 dance feel and Malaby's intricate pattern-building tenor solos are arresting. Some of the music, however, is fragile and meditative, church music being very important to Kerecki. There are brief improv duets between Malaby and the bassist, and a suite composed for Malaby passes from a dreamily dirge-like theme, through free-improv and back, with Kerecki's booming rhythmic figures giving the band immense life.