Rudresh Mahanthappa is to return with a new album Bird Calls in early-2015, a Charlie Parker-inspired quintet affair from the alto saxophonist whose album Gamak released last year had a microtonal flavour, with south Indian music and reinvented bebop meeting the delta blues and heavy rock head on.

The new album, released by Munich label ACT, promises to be quite different with a largely new line-up featuring trumpeter Adam O'Farrill, pianist Matt Mitchell and Beautiful Dreamers drummer Rudy Royston. Only bassist François Moutin returns from the Gamak line-up.

Dominated by five ‘Bird Calls’ pieces spaced throughout, the album was recorded over a couple of days in early-August.

Expect a release towards the end of February/beginning of March.

Rudresh Mahanthappa, above. Photo: Jimmy Katz/ACT