The Basilisk, the title track, starts with a definitive statement in the frontline and quickly moves with a writhing, snaky melody backed by a raw Bronx, N.Y. inspired groove that you may only find on a DJ Premier produced hip-hop record. There is also a waltz with an intricately fashioned melody that spins like a silk thread through a Japanese kimono, named O-Hime. Expectation has a new and fresh sound with an edge that has rarely been displayed on a stringed instrument of this type; in a word it is driving. Mansa Khan Musa shows the use of colorful chord structures and broad soundscapes. Inner Glimpse shows the willingness of Mr. Khaliq to address a piece from the great modal burnout repertoire written by McCoy Tyner. Spirals, another original composition, puts forth a post-apocalyptic view of modern jazz, that circles deep into the depths of despair and leads to The Truth. Polka Dots and Moonbeams, the final statement on the record, gives a nod to the traditional with a twist of new harmonic intrigue. Mr. Khaliq’s reinterpretation of the standard will leave you starry-eyed.