There have been numerous recorded homages to the iconic jazz pianist-composer Krzysztof Komeda by artists from his native Poland: from trumpeter Tomasz Stańko’s memorable Litania, Michal Urbaniak and Leszek Moźdźer through to more recent projects by younger-gen Poles such as saxophonist Maciej Obara and Woijtek Mazolewski.

The esteemed veteran pianist Joachim Kühn is German, but he was close to Komeda in spirit as well as in person, and his New Trio, formed in 2015, release their third CD on ACT, a ‘live’ tribute to Komeda recorded last year at the Berlin Philharmonic XIV. The trio partner with the Atom String Quartet, who’ve arranged and performed their own unique tributes to Komeda over the past decade. The Third Stream-ish nature of much of Komeda’s work makes the choice of string quartet as an extension of the jazz trio, a fitting if challenging instrumentation.

A brilliantly atmospheric colourist and melodist, Komeda’s work is a blessing for Atom String Quartet that as individuals are equally adept at pursuing a high level of jazz improv as they are effervescent arrangements as a group, inviting comparisons to Stateside’s Turtle Island Quartet. The purposeful sense of structure in Komeda’s work fits well with Kuhn’s approach and on readings of tracks from Astigmatic, the widely acknowledged 1965 studio masterpiece (Kuhn was present at the recording), which is reinterpreted in its entirety here, ‘Svantetic’ is a highlight. ‘Crazy Girl’ from the Polanski-directed Knife in the Water soundtrack – balanced between exquisite chamber arrangements and a spontaneous string swing - could also be a celebration of the recently departed Swedish saxophonist Bernt Rosengren, who was a pivotal presence on the soundtrack recording. Kuhn is both calm and majestic on the lullaby ‘Sleep, Safe and Warm’ from Polanski-Komeda’s Hollywood hit Rosemary’s Baby. This certainly numbers among the more stirring tributes to Komeda.