Phil Merriman Trio: l-r Merriman, Simon Roth, John Williamson play the 606 tonight

A piano trio recording from UK pianist Phil Merriman, a former student of John Taylor. What's here doesn't sound like Taylor at all much however the pervasive style swims in concentric circles.

With Merriman are bassist John Williamson and drummer Simon Roth who have been playing together on and off for a couple of years. On the horizon Williamson himself is to debut as a leader with the Nikki Iles produced release The Northern Sea that Martin Hummel's Ubuntu label are to issue.

The Merrimans recorded The Roots Beneath in a residential studio called Ayriel located in Yorkshire's Esk Valley not far from Castleton Moor.

'Now and Not Yet' and the title track from The Roots Beneath out on Friday are streaming

All pretty introspective certainly as a general comment. And there's plenty to like here. Merriman has his own way about him but often Williamson steals the show just as much and ups the ante when at certain crunch points in the often minor mode slightly oblique original tunes he moves things on. Drummer Roth is a strong technician - in that regard turn to the sound of Steve 'Dakiz' Davis a bit, who works with Alexander Hawkins. And certainly the more improv angled end of Dakiz' approach comes into view listening to Roth on 'Rest'. The Roots Beneath was produced by the trombonist Raph Clarkson who is known for his work with the much missed punk jazzers WordService Project especially on their best record - 2016's For King & Country.