Multi-reedman Bleach is a regular with the new young Metropolitan revivalist bands like Tuba Skinny and has recorded quite widely.

Here he’s concentrating on ballads on this, the first release on his own label. As can be discerned from its title, Bleach favours earlier styles and veers towards full-toned, largely melodic explorations of these nine time-heralded standards. He gives ‘Body and Soul’ a fulsome tenor workout, all heart-on-the-sleeve stuff, his rebuilding of its theme a matter of clever variation rather than radical overhaul but affecting nonetheless. Good, who is often aligned to Pete Long’s repertoire projects, plays a pretty straight bat here in suitably Teddy Wilson-ish style and is at one with bass and guitar in giving his leader the support he merits. Bleach handles ‘Deep Purple’ on soprano, peachy-toned and poised – the late Bob Wilber would have approved, for sure – moving to clarinet for ‘Memories of You’, again allowing the melody to breathe and just concentrating on beauty in execution. It’s alto for ‘Prelude To A Kiss’, Hodges-like but emotionally pure, and clarinet for Bechet’s ‘Si Tu Vois Ma Mère’.

His technique and control on all four instruments are exemplary, this young master having absorbed the teachings of his many pre-bop heroes most ably. Next time, I’d like to hear him in faster company.