In 2005 Nicolas Meier - a UK-resident Swiss guitarist of Metheny affiliations but strongly contrasting Turkish and Romanian family and musical connections - made a fine world-music debut with Orient, a mix of Turkish dance-themes, Methenyish lyricism and the inspirational Gilad Atzmon on saxes and clarinet.

Orient had three saxophones, but for this, Meier has stripped the band down to a quartet, with Atzmon; he has also tightened the repertoire and edited the spacey fusion effects, and substantially improved the quality of the composing. Asaf Sirkis's military-taut snare patterns and Atzmon's whooping soprano swap with languid guitar counter-melodies on the headlong Homeland. And Meier's lovely acoustic sound, effortless fast fills and unerringly timed embellishments erupt through the development of the mixed-tempo Why? The rumbling, prancing Face makes you want to look for a dancing partner, and Atzmon's balefully solemn use of the Turkish clarinet on Pledge is like a gaze you can't turn away from. It fulfils all Orient's promise and more.