Adam Baldych & The Baltic Gang

Imaginary Room ACT****

Violinist Adam Baldych could be said, in a wildly generalised sort of way, to represent a new generation of jazz musicians bridging a divide between the collaborative, compositional approach of Europeans and the more individualistic, display- oriented American scene. Born and raised in Poland and now based in New York, the young virtuoso has forged his own distinctive musical alloy, combining the precision of a classical violinist, the romanticism of a gypsy fiddler and the athleticism of a jazz improviser.

The band he has assembled is similarly gifted and represents the cream of the Scandinavian scene, including Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and Norwegian saxophonist Marius Nesset. Baldych's austere tunes, ranging from tender to the explosive, provide dramatic settings for an open-minded blowing session, with Baldych, Pohjola and Nesset turning in performances that bristle with confidence. adambaldych.com