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Excellent music from Alan Barnes and David Newton plus new offerings from Bob Sheppard and Steve Gadd with an excellent new album from Christian McBride which pairs him with a number of ‘guests.’

One of those is the versatile, talented Angelique Kidjo who sings while Christian plays bass – just the two of them. There’s also Helen Ward singing, a V-disc from the forties with a band led by Red Norvo while Ella Fitzgerald is singing with Duke Ellington’s orchestra and Duke Ellington is playing in the south of France in 1966.

Add to this music from the Dave Pell Octet, Stan Kenton, Tommy Smith, Pete Allen and Humphrey Lyttelton and you have two hours of pure melodic jazz.