For his twelfth release 'The Cactus of Knowledge' Abou-Khalil has decided to revisit big band jazz with, among others, a host of brass players, including Eddie Allen and Dave Ballou on trumpet, Tom Varner on French horn, Dave Bargeron on euphonium, Michel Godard on tuba, Antonio Hart on alto sax and Ellery Eskelin on tenor sax. Also in on the fun are Gabriele Mirabassi on clarinet, Vincent Courtois on cello, Nabil Khaiat on frame drums and Jarrod Cagwin on drums.