If I were to make a list of top Europe jazz saxophonists who all are also female – Nubya Garcia, Frøy Aagre, Tori Freestone, Cassie Kinoshi, Rachael Cohen, Barbara Thompson, Trish Clowes, Meilana Gillard, Candy Dulfer, Josephine Davies and Chelsea Carmichael would all be on such a list of incredible players – Tineke Postma from the Netherlands would additionally sit very high on it.

Look for Freya, her latest in March, and kick off the build-up by catching a slice of the title track. No newcomer, on this latest record that the Edition label are putting out, Postma, who plays alto and soprano saxes on the album that was recorded in the States, is with quite a band: trumpeter Ralph Alessi, Lines in the Sand bassist Matt Brewer, Potter Underground drummer Dan Weiss and the hugely acclaimed avant pianist Kris Davis. (Both Alessi and Davis along with the new Anthony Braxton drummer Steve 'Dakiz' Davis were in the Sugar Blade trio incidentally gelling significantly but an outfit that still bizarrely hasn't gigged live.) What we have so far on Freya built from the ground up via terse modal beginnings leading to savoury trumpet and sax joustings that funnel into open space and an absorbing solo from Postma is simply a thrill. SG

Photo of Tineka Postma: Dave Stapleton