This fine group was a great success at Darlington Arts Centre in 2009 and it’s a pleasure to hear their new CD.

Alongside pianist Steve Melling and drummer Clark Tracey are Mark Armstrong trumpets, Simon Allen alto sax, Dave O’Higgins alternating with Josephine Davies on tenor sax, Mark Bassey trombone and Geoff Gascoyne bass.

The music was written or arranged by members of the band with a pleasing mix of moods and tempos including Steve’s Just a Blues, Simon’s arrangement of Cherokee and Dave’s Round and Round in Circles with a beautiful flugelhorn feature by Mark Armstrong.

stevemelling.co.uk