There’s a perception that Bobby Wellins’ contribution to jazz is becoming restricted to his solo on ‘Starless And Bible Black’ from Stan Tracey’s Under Milk Wood suite. The present expanded reissue is a forceful reminder that there was much more to him, in terms of his original writing and his unique sound when improvising.

He’s occasionally been compared to Johnny Griffin for his fluency, but Wellins’ instrumental tone is more like a Scottish equivalent to Jan Garbarek, although a decade older, and ostensibly closer to the tradition.

Recorded within an 18-month period when Wellins’ career was resurgent after years of addiction problems, the material is centred around two now hard-to-find LPs, the live Jubilation and its studio follow-up Dreams Are Free, both consisting entirely of the tenorman’s compositions - the title track of the former bears no relation to the Junior Mance standard. These were both produced and released by bassist-administrator Kendon, whose playing worked well with the now equally senior Wells. The youngest member of the band, blind pianist Jacobsen, sadly died in 2002 and is not only ripe for rediscovery; but is inventive in solo and creative in backing, while a large part of what makes these performances so compelling is the exciting yet supportive drumming of Wells. (Full disclosure: I first met Spike 60 years ago this autumn, and have always admired his playing.)

The bonus tracks, taped by Wells (more than half-an-hour’s worth on each CD), include a live set doubtless recorded with a single mike, and with a corresponding diminution of the piano sound and more emphasis on the drums. But Bobby’s response to this standard material is even more extraordinary in some ways, including on the better-balanced tranche added to CD2. If the limited edition physical release has sold out by the time you seek it, you may be able to access the music via Bandcamp, and would be well advised to do so.