Unless it dries up, the river will flow to the sea. A more intriguing question might be: where will the flow take Matt Carmichael? At twenty-one, in his final year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the tenor saxophonist—a BBC Young Jazz Musician Finalist in 2020—is only starting out on his musical journey. But his assured debut as leader suggests that Carmichael will travel far. These nine originals, which draw heavily on Scottish folk traditions, herald the emergence of an exciting talent and an original voice.

The playing is uniformly excellent, tight yet uninhibited, which is perhaps to be expected from a quartet that formed in 2016. The album starts serenely with "Sognsvann," a spare composition, named after a Swedish lake, and built around Carmichael's lilting and unmistakably Scottish melody. Understated yet lyrical, it feels like a warm welcoming toast before the main business begins.

Carmichael enjoys a solid rhythmic foundation in the form of drummer Tom Potter—whose collaboration with the leader goes back to the East Dumbartonshire Schools Orchestra—and Ali Watson, a highly melodic bassist with a big, rich sound. The former's dynamism and the latter's melodic approach to groove are heard to good effect on "Firth," a handsome folk tune that moves from its cantering intro into a lively gallop, with pianist