From the get-go it's hard not to be charmed by Matt Carmichael's breathy melodicism. Unabashedly steeped in his Scottish heritage, Carmichael has all the credentials: BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist, graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, mentored by Tommy Smith. But none of that really matters, what does matter is that he can connect emotionally with a listener, even via a download, that he can make you laugh and shed a tear within the turn of a bar. He can stick to the simplest of melodies as on the opening ‘Sognsvann’ (Carmichael has an affinity with Norway), can raise the spirit of a kid bowling down the street as on ‘Cononbridge’ (the to and fro frolics with McCreadie are a kick-a-tin-along pleasure) and if there's a touch of sentiment here and on ‘Dear Grandma’, why not? It's about putting feeling ahead of academic virtuosity.

In McCreadie, Carmichael has an admirable foil, notably on the title track where the pianist can do the unbound, ecstatic thing yet keep it all the right side of controlled. Just. Holding in mind this is a debut and the musical journey ahead will have high and low roads, it's yet impossible to predict where the river will flow. But it's starting from an impressive source.