J-Man Post Scriptum is the sort of album that's absolutely perfect for a rainy, cold evening. The brooding melancholy of the album's fourteen compositions are always somber in their beauty, the energy of the music is kept to a minimum, and Wolfert Brederode's style of piano playing is always smooth and relaxing. This is the second album from the Wolfert Brederode Quartet, and it features an all-star cast of international jazz musicians. In addition to the Dutch Brederode on piano, you also have Swiss clarinettist Claudio Puntin and drummer Samuel Rohrer, and Norwegian bassist Mats Eilertsen. A group of talented musicians to be sure, every subtle performance on this album strikes me as well-executed and tasteful. This may be a tough nut to crack upon your first few listens due to the generally calming nature of the music, but Post Scriptum does eventually reveal itself as a genius contemporary jazz album.

The music on Post Scriptum is heavily rooted in complex and intricate songwriting, and the quartet seldom rely on improvisation as their main attraction. As a result, all of the music here comes across as extremely focused and precise, and Wolfert Brederode's top-notch piano playing often takes center stage. All of the other musicians are thoroughly integrated into the mix, but it's his piano playing that ends up stealing the show for me - which is absolutely fine, considering what a fantastic player he is. The extremely mellow and slightly bleak compositions can take a bit to sink in, but Post Scriptum does certainly begin to unravel as the listener becomes more acquainted with the music.

Even though the album almost always remains mellow and restrained, that isn't to say that Post Scriptum lacks when it comes to variation. There are quite a few memorable melodic sections, yet you'll also hear plenty of somber piano parts and even a few touches of dissonant avant-garde (albeit a bit more tame than you may be expecting). My only real issue with the album is that its playing length is nearly 70 minutes... far too long for an album that is this mellow in my opinion. It can become a bit tedious towards the end, and with a little bit of fat trimmed around the edges this could've been a much more consistent effort. Either way, there are still enough worthwhile songs to make this a pleasurable listen. Tracks like "Augenblick In Der Garderobe Des Sommers" send chills up my spine every time I hear them - the clarinet playing is especially spectacular in this track.

Post Scriptum is a highly impressive sophomore outing from the Wolfert Brederode Quartet, and anybody who enjoyed their debut (or contemporary jazz in general) is bound to find plenty to love here. Although I'm far from an expert in this area of jazz, I know that I like what I hear quite a bit. 4 stars are very well-deserved for this excellent observation. This isn't for people looking for some music to cheer them up, but it's a very good acquisition for everyone else.