Album: Kevin Figes Quartet, Hometime (Pig Records)

If new UK jazz groups sometimes seem marred by superficiality with, as an older bandleader put it, "everyone sounding different, everyone sounding the same", saxophonist Figes has strength in depth.

This is due to the skill of his writing, the fluency of his playing and the go-for-it oomph of the rhythm section. Bassist Riaan Vosloo and drummer Tim Giles are fairly well known but Jim Blomfield is the best British pianist you've never heard of and an absolute marvel.