Denys Baptiste arrived complete with a tenor-sax and a mind full of reminiscences. Which was fine and fitting. On reaching the life-questioning age of 40 he planned the album: Identity by Subtraction. The title is for philosophers to ponder, but the tracks are a musical assessment of what makes Baptiste: Baptiste. Far too likeable to be pretentiousness, he pondered the influence of saxophonists like John Coltrane and Mike Brecker, the impact of all the types of music he’s played to earn a living, the people he’s met along the way, and his life support system – his family.

As he roared through the title-track chord changes, with bassist Gary Crosby rock steady, and drummer Rod Youngs dropping bombs of encouragement, it was clear that the years have certainly advanced his considerable playing. 

Denys’ musical relationship with pianist Andrew McCormack is thing of joy and telepathy. On Harriot’s Charriot - dedicated to saxist Joe Harriot, their swopping of long inter-related choruses was a delight. The pianist brought a dreamlike, impressionistic air to Special Times – the family dedication. It evolved through agitation into life-affirming emotion, seeming to say that happiness comes through effort. It also came with Dance of the Marquiritari, inspired by a family member who belonged to that South American tribe. 

Whatever, with the under-recorded band firing over a dynamic rumba beat, it was very apparent that another recording studio date, can’t come too soon.