Acrobat must be among the market leaders in jazz salvage. Hard on the heels of their recent Tubby Hayes and Hopbine jam live releases, they have now exhumed this tape from a 1972 session at The Bell in Maidenhead, when it was a regular jazz venue. What’s more, they have again allowed annotator Simon Spillett his head, his 23-page essay a thoughtful and informative adjunct to the album. That said, it’s a hard listen, what with the continuous backdrop of punter chat and the over-amplification of Hetherington’s drums, his constant bomb-dropping an irritating counterpoint to the group’s music-making. Bassist Larue is nowhere to be heard and pianist Berry, an adroit, boppish player is well back in the mix, only emerging here and there to solo in lively, Powell-like fashion. Bandleader and organiser Best, yet another of British jazz’s undersung heroes is heard on several numbers, most notably ‘Whisper Not’, his fluidity especially impressive, leaning more to Milt than Hamp. Morrissey, of course, is front and centre, soloing with characteristic fecundity on a series of pieces mostly associated with Sonny Rollins, evidently his principal influence. That his playing is engaging is undeniable, with a built-in propensity to swing. Thus, the session has value as a reminder of just how good he sounded in what might otherwise be seen as fairly unrewarding, not to say trying, circumstances.