American heavyweights teaming up with lesser-known Europeans rarely blend as neatly as Seamus Blake does with the Norwegian-based trumpet and rhythm quartet Bridges. The album's core aesthetic draws on the unfolding narratives, soft-centred pulse and step-ladder harmonies of European jazz – think Kenny Wheeler and late 20th century ECM. Anders Thorén's swishes and pings build a strong pulse without stating the obvious, bassist Jesper Bodilsen delivers counterpoint lines and pianist Espen Berg provides subtle shadings in support and solos firmly. Blake's fluid fusion sax might not seem an easy fit, but here he combines beautifully with trumpeter Hayden Powell's understated lyricism in the theme and solos with a tight articulation and raw edge that adds an extra dimension and helps the original repertoire grip. The album opens with a brief bucolic interlude then switches to the elegiac bounce and tense broken beats of ‘The Clues’. ‘Andromeda’, a gentle mood piece that hovers just above ballad tempo, is followed by the floaty malevolence of ‘Slightly Behind’, which has the same speed but is emotionally distinct. The ferocious trickery of ‘The Jupiter Line’ was penned by Seamus Blake and the concluding ballad and fantasia are by composers outside the band. Bridges, with Blake, released their self-titled debut in 2016 and have been touring sporadically ever since, developing an empathetic ease that makes the two free compositions, ‘Two’ and ‘Fanfare’, sound like they were at least partially composed.