Beyond WordsEnja/Yellowbird ****

Vienna-based clarinettist Ulrich Drechsler is not a man to be put in a box. His previous projects have ranged freely over the contemporary musical landscape, from daring re-compositions of Franz Schubert's Lieder for jazz quartet to whole albums of Thelonius Monk covers. Beyond Words is a loose- limbed, chamber affair, this time built around Drechsler's own compositions – short and bittersweet arrangements for trio that owe as much to Schubert as they do to Coltrane – with the composer's lithe, honey-toned bass clarinet playing the lead role, and pianist Benny Omerzell and percussionist Lukas König providing inventive support. Israeli singer Efrat Alony contributes fine vocals on two tracks, rather confounding the proposition of the title, but adding another layer to a somewhat austere record that, for all its sombre Germanic beauty, contains moments of joy. ulrichdrechsler.com