Soweto Kinch, Conversations With The Unseen (Dune) ****

THIS precocious blast of bop-driven jazz marks the debut of Soweto Kinch, the 25-year-old Birmingham sax player, who has visited York both in his own right and as part of Jazz Jamaica All Stars. As well as making bop sound slippery new, Kinch adds his own conversations in the form of three extended autobiographical rap sessions. Strictly speaking, these vocal exchanges contribute little to the album, except that they do allow Kinch to personalise the music; the rapping comes across a touch nave, perhaps, but it adds to the freshness of a thrillingly excitable album. The true eloquence lies in the music, with Kinch's blowing out alto solos of breath-taking invention and suppleness. After the rapping intro, Doxology offers a headlong rush of sound as it joyfully jumps tempos. The title track swims with melodic invention, while Snakehips is a playful delight. Good Nooys is a race between rap, bop and soul, with exhilarating vocals from Eska Mtungwazi. All in all, a jaw-dropping calling card.