Nicolas Masson - "Renaissance" / Nicolas Masson's acquaintance with his fellow quartet travelers Colin Vallon, Patrice Moret and Lionel Friedli goes back roughly two decades - in this time the players have developed an intimate musical bond, expressed purely and beautifully on Renaissance. Comprised exclusively of originals by the Swiss saxophonist and one collective improvisation, the album's spotlight shifts between contrasting moods and shapes, capturing the venturesome leader stretching his compositional muscle in evocative interplay with his colleagues. Verve Label Group; ECM; Jazz.