Like so many musicians before him, guitarist Georgi Petrov, 26, headed to this city to study at the University of New Orleans. A native of Bulgaria who focused primarily on classical music at Lawrence University, Petrov, arrived here in 2011 with an aim to obtain a Masters of Music in Jazz Performance degree. Naturally, the guitarist also dove into the live, local jazz scene.

Lost Originals stands as Petrov’s debut album as leader and shows off his chops as both a musician and composer. As might be expected considering his background, the guitarist’s technical abilities—as well as those of the members of his quartet—pianist Doc Sharp, drummer Sam Wiseman and bassist Trey Boudreaux—are outstanding. Petrov at once boasts a warm and welcoming tonal quality and a striking dexterity.

The CD opens with the straight-ahead title cut, a sophisticated number that finds the push of the piano in stark contrast to Petrov’s more calming role. It is one of five Petrov originals with Wiseman and Boudreaux contributing the other two of the seven cuts.

The album changes pace from the quietude of some of the album’s early cuts when the group starts swinging on Petrov’s “Like Lennie,” which it’s assumed is a tribute to the great guitarist Lennie Tristano. All of the band members get into the groove.

The closing tune, “Walking Lullaby,” by bassist Boudreaux begins, as the title would suggest, slowly. In segments of its almost 12-minute duration, it becomes progressively slow with the bassist enjoying space of his own. Who would guess that Petrov, fluent in many genres, would crank it up and and show himself to be a brazen rocker.

Lost Originals introduces Petrov and his quartet as highly talented, versatile musicians with something to say.