Saxophonist Jeff Coffin is a busy man. Alongside his long term commitment to Bela Fleck And The Flecktones he has also found time to play clarinet on The Waifs recent album and is currently touring with The Dave Matthews Band whilst regular sax player Leroi Moore recovers from an accident. All this whilst holding together his own ensemble - The Jeff Coffin Mu'tet.

Mutopia is the third release from the band which is built around the nucleus of Felix Pastorius on bass, the enigmatically named Futureman on drums, the keyboard and occasional woodwind skills of Kofi Burbridge and, of course, Coffin himself. Coffin, apparently, rejects all labels but there is an undeniable African influence to his rootsy, bluesy jazz sound that underpins much of his work. This is particularly so on the opening number which put me in mind of Art Blakey's A Night In Tunisia and serves as an uplifting introduction to the Coffin sound.

The second track - 'Al's Green' - takes things much more left field both chordally and rhythmically with Kofi Burbridge's more mainstream flute lines creating an engaging contrast - particularly when Coffin's sax offers melodic support.

Perhaps my favourite track is 'Sweet Magnolias' which finds Coffin going all Dexter Gordon during a lengthy bluesy workout. The track, like much of the album, is underpinned by Chris Walker's understated and sympathetic piano work. It can't be easy to take a largely improvisational playing style such as Coffins and integrate this with the broad range of influences on display here but the Jeff Coffin Mu'tet rise to the challenge with some style producing an album that is as interesting and enjoyable as any I have heard for quite a while.

Richard Hall