ACT 9532-2 | Adam Baldych (vln), Verneri Pohjola (t), Marius Neset (ts), Jacob Karlzon (p), Lars Danielsson (b, clo) and Morten Lund (d). Rec. 11-13 March 2012, Hansa Studio, Berlin

It says a lot for the development of European jazz that a genuine ‘all-star’ band can be assembled from the Baltic States to feature the playing of the young Polish violin virtuoso Adam Bałdych. With a superb rhythm section comprising Jacob Karlzon and Lars Danielsson from Sweden and Morten Lund from Denmark, plus the young Finnish trumpet star Verneri Pohjola and the fast rising tenor sax star Marius Neset from Norway, Bałdych is in fast company and responds with playing that speaks less of virtuosity, more a desire to get to the heart of each compositions meaning, but nevertheless on a piece like ‘Village Underground’ he leaves you in no doubt he is a player the jazz world should watch. Well arranged, conceived an executed, every player respects the mood and integrity of Bałdych’s compositions, and from the subtle, undulating tom-tom pulse of ‘The Imaginary Room’ to ‘Million Miles Away’ with its gentle, yet compelling duet between Neset and Pohjola, this is an album to savour.

– Stuart Nicholson