Norwegian saxophonist Bakken spent four years at Berklee, where Garzone was one of his teachers, and this debut album neatly encapsulates both his Nordic roots and the influence of modern American jazz. The opening title track shows the leader’s firm, focused tone coupled with a melodic fluency that is centred somewhere mid-Atlantic, though the theme and structure of the piece is distinctly Nordic, pausing after the first solo to reveal a slow, silence-surrounded solo piano section which then rebuilds into a solo from 0len and a storming second Bakken solo to finish. ‘Straight Forward’ sets Bakken’s soprano alongside Garzone’s tenor, first separately in solos and then together in a carefully phrased return of the ballad’s theme. ‘Opposing Forces’ is more of a traditional tenor battle, which breaks from it’s medium funkiness into double-time rushes on occasions; it’s more respectful than pugnacious, just as the two tenor players are matching in tone rather than contrasting.

Bassist Svendsen is impressive in arco support on the looser ‘Titanomachy’, while the substantial ‘The Composer’ returns to a more measured mood and uses its 12-minute length to unfold in sustained and carefully-arranged development. A meeting of European and US jazz traditions which shouldn’t displease fans of either.