The six quartets of Béla Bartók are favorites of the 20th century chamber music repertory and have been recorded many times, but this razor-sharp release by the Jerusalem Quartet must rank near the top of the bunch. There are multiple factors in its favor. It's the second of a pair covering all six quartets, and programming the quartets this way, 2-4-6 and then 1-3-5, makes sense; the ones here are of a more experimental nature, initiating ideas that are explored in detail in the even-numbered pieces. The general style of the Jerusalem's playing fits these works particularly well, with the rigorous String Quartet No. 3 given a real edge. The group shifts gears effectively from the late Romantic String Quartet No. 1, with its hints of a big style change in progress, and to the broader, accessible late Bartók style adumbrated in the String Quartet No. 5. However, the biggest plus here is simply that these are difficult works, and the Jerusalem Quartet really inhabits them; the group has played the pieces in concert many times and approaches the music with confidence and control. Harmonia Mundi's Teldex Studio sound is ideal, a bonus to a very strong Bartók recording.