The saxophonist Jon Lloyd, who switched from alto to soprano around 2001, has a background in re-aligning the boundaries between tightly structured composition and free improv. Although this approach feeds into the new Jon Lloyd Group, free improv isn't the focus, though a fluid and engaging dialogue is, especially from the very expressive Lloyd and the pianist John Law, a long-term collaborator of the saxophonist since the 1990s. On Vanishing Points there's an interesting contrast developed between intimate Kairos 4tet-ish pastoral moods, angular rock riffs, haunting minimalist piano grooves, and Lloyd's at times Wayne Shorter-ish soprano. With a sensitive yet sturdy rhythm section of Empirical bassist Tom Farmer and the UK-based Israeli drummer Asaf Sirkis, the stylistic versatility and high quality of this recording makes it stand out in a hot month for new releases.