There's something interestingly different going on at almost every moment on this trio set led by young Kilkenny-born saxophonist Adam Nolan, which is about as much as you could ask from a 100% improv session.

What's almost as interesting is the newcomer's prolific creativity since the launch of his 2018 debut Expanding The Consciousness - 15 albums have already followed it, of live improv recordings, studio sessions, podcasts, and Zen-influenced reflections on life, the universe, and everything. Nolan's directions to his partners on Prim and Primal were no more than verbal descriptions of scenes from his imagination, movies, myths, or disparate jazz styles he wanted them to splice together on the fly, but there isn't a hint of self-indulgence in it. His alto sax approach is often an Ornettish collage of swinging figures, vocalised tonal elisions and busy double-time, and some occasional Cool School-reminiscent delicacy - evident from the off on 'Expand The Tempo', after a free bass/drums intro that turns into a sporadically-steady walk. He intriguingly picks his way in rising scurries and quivering slow motifs around bass growls and quiet mallet-rolls on 'The Modern Jazz Trio', while 'Latin Jazz?' wryly merges fragments of Latin sashaying with abstract bowed-bass groans. Nolan goes in and out of free-time and groove very easily, sometimes trilling and repeating fast motifs, intensifying his tone between lyrical and guttural, sometimes repeating a short phrase up to a long bluesy resolution, as he does on 'The Magic Carpet'.

Free-jazz fans will love this album's imaginative virtuosity, but it's often inviting to traditional listeners too. Not least, it's a fine advert for Ireland's contemporary jazz scene.