Jake Hertzog‘s new album, Longing To Meet You, is an exquisite journey that features a taut balance of four explorers who breathe music: Jake Hertzog (guitar), Matt Woroshyl (saxophone), Perrin Grace (bass), and Joe Perl (drums).

Longing to Meet You is Mr. Hertzog’s ninth studio album and features a grouping that first came together during their time at the Manhattan School in New York. It is the first of a planned trio of recordings by Hertzog.

The album begins with a studied introduction to the theme (inspired by the journey toward becoming a father), establishing the world from which the coming songs will transport us. Even with its appearance of austerity, it is a highly personal recording, Soon enough, the players are off, and that wonderful state that the jazz genre does better than any other—the complicating of things while at the same time making things perfectly clear—is achieved. This is sustained until the breaking off point known as the temporary end. The quartet of musicians are in fine form, and play with a unified soul.