The third release from Adam Waldmann's Kairos 4tet group alternates between airily song-like jazz instrumentals and acoustic songs, one rolling quite naturally into the next. In other words the young saxophonist-composer has avoided anything that could be described as ‘crossover’ with this high-spirited and warmly expressive recording that's split between songs and instrumentals without compromising one or the other. Everything We Hold is easily Waldmann's best to date, not that the previous ones were any less than impressive. But this one hangs together beautifully in the way albums were always meant to; as well as bursting with dreamy, hummable melodic themes he brings out the best in his quartet by putting a tight focus on solos, while providing a neat springboard for some committed, edge-of-the-seat improv all round. Especially from Ivo Neame who's at his most visceral, punching out some mesmerising solos as is Waldmann, mellifluous yet penetrating on both tenor and soprano, pitching at times somewhere between Charles Lloyd and his Trinity College mentor Julian Argüelles. Songs are written by the saxophonist-leader and the lyricist Rupert Friend, someone much better known for being a Hollywood actor and Keira Knightley's ex.

Their originals are sung by three contrasting vocal types: the celebrated Brit soul star Omar, young Irish alt roots singer Marc O'Reilly and Swedish jazz chanteuse Emilia Mårtensson who appeared on last year's MOBO award winning Statement of Intent and fronts the most interesting of the songs, ‘Narrowboat Man’, that would be a surefire hit in a bygone era more partial to imaginatively crafted, sensitive songwriting. The husky-toned O'Reilly is the mouthpiece for a pair of love letters from Waldmann to his niece and his girlfriend. Though these tend towards the MOR end of acoustic pop-soul the execution is heartfelt and extended wind and string arrangements by the hip arranger Jules Buckley are elegant. Mercury prize judges might want to take note. Here's an album that could solve the perennial problem they face about how to please both the uninitiated and jazz specialists alike.