Classical guitarist John Williams has travelled across Africa - to Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Zaire and South Africa - and the islands of Madagascar, Cape Verde and Cuba in search of fresh material. And he has come back with a transformation of several different styles and forms, which his group plays with the scholarship and flair they might apply to medieval music. The repertoire includes Nkosi Sikelele (the ANC anthem), several pieces by the late Francis Bebey and their own medleys of traditional tunes.

The group's sound is beautiful, and each piece is played with great respect and musicianship, yet the overall mood is muted. The performance falls between stools, with neither the dynamic tension and release of a classical recital nor the dancing physicality of a world-music act. Mazava, multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey's arrangement of traditional music from Madagascar, aims for more drama and detail, but veers uncomfortably close to stiff-backed folk-rock. At their best, however, they achieve a virtuosic take on the Penguin Cafe Orchestra's omnivorous minimalism.

Harvey's collection of flutes, whistles, mandolin, clarinet, thumb piano and melodica is a crucial part of the band's sound, adding colour to Williams and John Etheridge's guitar fests. Drummer Paul Clarvis plays brilliantly, though without the wild invention he brings to his band Orquestra Mahatma. Double-bassist Chris Laurence is always creative, whether laying down a solid groove, playing high, delicate improvisations, or bowing melodies in unison with Harvey's bass clarinet. You cannot ignore Laurence's fruity sound, but it never distracts from the melody going on at the same time. Williams is relaxed but maybe too self-effacing in the company of his jazzy friends; a little more solo guitar would have been welcome.