Edition Records EDN 1026 | Adam Waldmann (saxes), Ivo Neame (p), Jasper Høiby (db), Jon Scott (d) with guest Emilia Martensson (vcl). Rec. Dec 2010

On the follow-up to the very promising 2009 debut Kairos Moment, saxophonist Adam Waldmann’s Kairos 4tet comes back with a slightly altered line up with pianist Ivo Neame (replacing Rob Barron) as well as double bassist Jasper Høiby, making up two thirds of the scene’s high flying piano trio Phronesis. The 27-year-old Waldmann’s mentor at Trinity College was ex-Loose Tubes saxophonist Julian Argüelles and like him he favours a folky lyricism and song-like expressivity. Waldmann’s writing here has the kind of whirling world-jazz melodies and airy cross-rhythmic grooves that are a vital element in contemporary groups such as Avishai Cohen, Portico Quartet and EST.

Meanwhile improvisation leans more towards the type of impressionistic free-bop-ish interaction mastered by Wayne Shorter’s contemporary quartet, though without too much in the way of tonal exploration or free-jazz abandon. Waldmann enjoys melody too much though for that, and his sax has a lot of charm and elegance; on soprano he performs the more effervescent, folky high energy stuff while the tenor generally takes care of the mellower, sumptuous end of things, faintly recalling the soundworld of a Tommy Smith or Jan Garbarek.

There is no sense of the leader hugging the spotlight though and pianist Neame and bassist Høiby both find space to present their fast developing individual voices against Waldmann’s persistent themes. The intimate sound of Gretchen Parlato-ish Swedish-born vocalist Emilia Martensson adds some variety with two vocal tracks she has co-penned with Waldmann. Kairos 4tet are a refreshing new addition to the young jazz generation.

- Selwyn Harris