An unusually configured quartet presents a new, multi-layered collection of jazz songs that is both sophisticated and immediately accessible.

8 Octopi unite voice and flute with piano and double bass - no drums, yet rhythmically compelling.

At the core are songs with compact structures, moving fluidly between jazz, pop sensibility and improvisational freedom.

Bandleader and composer Ben Zahler approaches the music first and foremost as a songwriter, shaping narratives through sound and language.

With vocalist Patricija Skof, the band has found a voice of warmth, clarity and strong expressive presence.

Her performance gives the complex material an effortless lightness and emotional depth.

The international line-up thrives on curiosity, playfulness and stylistic openness. 8 Octopi create demanding music that feels easy to enter - and that is precisely its strength.