Jonathan Bratoëff is a north London-based, French guitarist with an instinct for “less is more”. One of his greatest strengths is knowing when and when not to play. This was one of the reasons for both the effectiveness and appeal of Chapters, last year's F-IRE label recording in duo with American drummer Chris Vatalaro. He chooses the more reliable quartet format for his fourth release in which roles tend to take care of themselves. He has a profile that is still a modest one in spite of being a long-time member of F-ire Collective and releasing four well-regarded albums in the last decade. But there is a quiet fire about him and his music never shouts for your attention. There are originals that have Wayne Shorter-like themes, some have a hazy rock music ambience – Bratoeff likes rich open chords using shimmering or fuzzy chorus-y effects, while others take a spikier classic jazz-rock inspired direction. Bratoeff's restrained temperament means he also has a taste for a more intimate, lateral-thinking jazz guitar tradition a la Jim Hall. The new-ish lineup includes tenor saxophonist Mark Hanslip who's an ideal partner for the 30-something guitarist. He enhances Bratoeff's spacey moods superbly with his molasses-thick yet airy tone and hovering, post-M Base contemporary sax phrasing. Mason and Maddren are as good and open-minded a young rhythm section as you'll find in the UK, and they play throughout with determined enthusiasm. A conceptually bright guitarist who always makes it count in the recording studio.