Both as bandleader and key sideman in the trio Phronesis, Ivo Neame has more than served notice of his rising development as a pianist and composer. This superb new quintet release Strata on Whirlwind Recordings signals the emergence of a UK-based jazz artist of international quality. This time out Neame attaches the intricacy of his ensemble arrangements as heard on his 2012 album Yatra to a more direct, groove-based approach. On the opening title track, the theme played by saxophonist Tori Freestone recalls Jan Garbarek from Keith Jarrett's 1970's European quartet and Freestone impresses with some inspired soloing throughout the album. On ‘Folk Song’, Neame switches briefly to accordion to set up an East European/tango-like mood with hints perhaps of the influence of Hermeto Pascoal; ‘Eastern Chant’ sounds like it could have been written for Phronesis, while Freestone's lyrical sax on ‘Miss Piggy’ recalls the Iain Ballamy 1995 CD release All Men Amen. As with that British jazz cult-album classic, Ivo Neame continues on Strata to set new standards for lyrical contemporary jazz in the UK.