This debut CD from Slovakian singer, songwriter and arranger Ester Wiesnerová introduces an exciting new voice in European jazz. Inheriting her love of jazz from her mother (a pianist, composer, teacher, and songwriter herself), Wiesnerová studied for a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Berklee, followed by a master’s in Jazz Composition at the New England Conservatory. A journey of self-discovery, the outstanding album opener ‘Sinking Deep’ introduces the listener to Wiesnerová’s beguiling sound-world which features Charles Overton’s exquisite harp playing, Sam Knight’s clarinet which weaves around the vocal line, plus the supremely subtle rhythm section of bassist Michael Šelep and percussionist Kan Yanabe. ‘Circles’ starts with Šelep’s singing electric bass introduction and showcases Wiesnerová’s formidable arranging skills, using the quintet to create an immensely satisfying dramatic arc which ebbs and flows before returning back to the solo bass. Both lyrically and compositionally, ‘Nightingales and Maple Trees’ serves as a stunning centrepiece which marks Wiesnerová out as an artist of rare imagination, while the soaring, folk-like, wordless ‘Epilogue’ possesses a kind of Methenyesque joyousness in which the group’s enjoyment of the music shines through every bar. Featuring lyrics in English and Slovak plus countless photos, the lavishly produced, 120-page ‘blue journal’ CD packaging is a work of art in itself.