Empirical is a kindred quartet that equally values both tradition and exploration, and the current line-up has been dedicating themselves to the cause since 2008. While they might have already had their moments in the sun, winning accolades and a bucket-load of awards, among them the 2010 jazz MOBO, you always had the feeling they were in it for the long haul. Out of the spotlight they have continued to refresh their progressive brand of jazz that weaves together intricate contemporary grooves, unfamiliar compositional forms and open-minded post-bop improv. Like Lambs, the title of a new four-extended track EP, is their first studio outing since the start of the pandemic. Although they pride themselves on being democratically-run, it’s the drummer Shaney Forbes who’s written all of the tracks here, and it’s a seriously impressive little set of extended pieces. It starts with ‘Giants’, an exhilarating opener, driven by angular yet head-nodding grooves drawing from electronica, hiphop to Caribbean-Latin-ish inflected rhythms and compelling solos from the painterly vibraphonist Lewis Wright and intensely lyrical alto saxophonist Nathaniel Facey. Forbes’ titular two-movement suite starts with ominous arco bass-vibes chamber sounds with Wright’s slight variations on a thematic motif continuing through ‘Part 1’. Improvisations tend to feel more a part of compositional development than solos as such, and there’s a shift into more free-jazz territory on ‘Part 2’. ‘The Garden of Beginnings’ cools things down a bit with a haunting blend of Coltrane-esque cosmic jazz and MJQ-like chamber-noir. Give the drummer some for some seriously good writing as well as his undemonstratively supple drum work, while bassist Tom Farmer’s succinct movement and tone ensures a seamless dialogue. Here’s evidence that Empirical is still a reliable touchstone of contemporary British jazz at its most sophisticated.