Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977

4-STARS At one point, Galper was in danger of being recognised more as an educator than a pianist, although a couple of recent sessions for Origin should have put paid to that.

Similarly, this archive release is a strong reminder that post-bop was alive and well in the 1970s. The hard-driving and enthusiastically-received set is reminiscent of the famous Coltrane quartet at its most farout, but it has no suggestions of free-jazz or jazz-rock, despite the presence of the already recognised Brecker brothers. The Berlin gig was probably set up on the back of two then-new albums (one with a very similar line-up) and shares one tune each with them, while another tune 'Speak With A Single Voice' was the title-track of a live album done by this line-up three months later. A tenor-and-piano ballad 'I'll Never Stop Loving You' (the only non-Galper composition) is perhaps the standout, including a four-minute unaccompanied cadenza from Michael. Randy seems comparatively restrained but highly competent, while the obvious set-closer has a six-minute solo from Moses that is considerably less compelling (and emphasises the rather boxy sound of the drums in this board mix). The encore 'Hey Fool', apparently written for, but not recorded by, Cannonball, has a deliberate 'Country Preacher'-ish stop-and-start feel, but is a satisfying end to the proceedings.