Is Robin Verheyen's New York Quartet reminiscent of Cannonball and Nat Adderley? Or Rollins and Clifford Brown? Of Mobley and Kenny Dorham or Donald Byrd? Or Joe Henderson and Lee Morgan? Or Michael and Randy Brecker? In his international foursome, Verheyen teams the enigmatic trumpet-player Ralph Allessi (Steve Coleman, Uri Caine) with the young talents of bassist Thomas Morgan (Craig Taborn, Kenny Werner, Gerry Hemingway, Joey Barron) and drummer Jeff Davis (Ron Miles, Tony Malaby). Verheyen and Alessi have developed a particular style of their own in which warm, melodic lines derive additional energy from a soul rhythm whose tempi, even the fastest and slowest, appear effortlessy timed. A style that embraces a blues-imbued sound, swinging timing, pure bop and improvised solo passages. The combination of fine technique and the joy of playing sends the sparks flying. To the musicians' credit, moreover, is that they don't immediately go for the over-complicated when there is scope to cut loose. Exciting and chock-full of emotion. Given their choice of style and the optimum accessibility of their music-making, it stands out a mile that a concert with Verheyen and Alessi aims first and foremost at providing a convivial evening. Challenging, but high-quality, relaxing jazz entertainment.