Drumfree Material Records****

Despite its understated nature, the music of Wolfgang Muthspiel’s new trio has an innate strength that quickly becomes apparent. It derives in part from the quality of those involved; with the leader on guitars, Larry Grenadier on bass and Andy Scherrer on saxophones, that’s a given. But Muthspiel’s compositions, which include several lovely ballads, a thoughtful blues and an almost theatrical dance with just a touch of flamenco, marry a near-classical formality with meat for improvisation. They’re highly organised without drowning in complexity – and they are full of character. The trio responds elegantly to their diverse charms, and Muthspiel, whose rapport with Grenadier is extraordinary, is particularly expressive on classical guitar. The brilliant, sensitive Scherrer makes an ideal foil in a group whose eloquent lyricism speaks volumes about their shared pleasure in the music. See materialrecords.com