Iain Matthews’ 2014 album, the excellent The Art of Obscurity, brought him back to the U.S. after 15 years of playing to European audiences. This prompted the release of his 2008 collaboration with The Searing Quartet, Joy Mining, and this 2011 collaboration with the Quartet’s leader, pianist Egbert Derix, In the Now. Both albums feature new songs, as opposed to revisiting Matthews’ extensive catalog with a “jazz” workout. In the Now dares to look back at the Swinging '60s with the brash jazz of “When the Floyd Were on the Prowl.” The former singer for the original Fairport Convention, Matthews works well with Derix, an established Dutch jazz composer. “Jewel of Illusion” mixes orchestration, Derix’s piano (which he gives a nice showcase), and Matthews’ gentle vocals for a song that—like many on the album—offers a choice beyond well-known jazz standards and vapid new age cocktail jazz. Matthews reminds us that there’s a literate option that combines memory with modern musings, poetic detail with narrative power. Try the seven-minute “Restless Wings” and the eight-minute “Be Small” for mesmerizing experiences.