One of the finest alto saxophonists in jazz, the pan-stylistic Benjamin Koppelhas, since the turn of the millennium, steadily risen in stature on the Danish jazz scene, the European jazz scene and with Art of the Quartet (and its sister release The Ultimate Jazz and Soul Review) appears as an equal partner in the fast company of Kenny Werner, Scott Colley and Jack DeJohnette.

Grandson of the Danish classical composer Herman D Koppel and son of rock musician and composer Anders Koppel (of the group Savage Rose), to say he comes from a musical background is something of an understatement. He's appeared on over 50 recordings with players as Phil Woods, Jim Hall, Joe Lovano, Paul Bley, Miroslav Vitous, Charlie Mariano, David Sanchez and Sheryl Crow, but on The Art of the Quartet, a searching examination of his playing over two CDs, he emerges as a world class musician. From the collective improvisations that open and close CD 1, the Ligeti-inspired ‘Bells of Belief’, through the thoughtful song- with-a-message ‘Night Seeing’ to an excellent reading of DeJohnette's ‘Ahmad the Terrible’, Koppel comes of age. He picks up on subtle harmonic nudges from Werner, rhythmic prods from DeJohnette, all the while remaining totally in command of his art. In the past, his ease in many different styles has tended to count against him as critics prefer their heroes to come plainly labelled. Not that this has troubled Koppel, and on this showing, nor should it.