Burrell, among the most prolific of recording artists and a true virtuoso of the jazz guitar, has been heard less often on disc in recent years. Now 84, and 20 years into his role as Distinguished Professor of Music and Ethnology at UCLA in Los Angeles, Burrell has eschewed overseas tours lately but still puts together an occasional quintet of likeminded musicians, viz this live recording from Catalina’s in Hollywood. There’s variety aplenty within its 18 tracks, the opening ‘Salty Papa’, a Lionel Hampton riff made famous by Dinah Washington, marked by a harmonised theme from tenor and guitar, drummer Cameron laying down astonking back-beat, Burrell the first to solo on electric guitar, bluesy and direct, before Almario comes on in raunchy mode, straining at the leash, Burrell riffing, as Ranier plays the blues in party-pleasing style. Thereafter the album mixes hard-driving swing with quietly reflective solo performances like ‘Serenata’, this like a master–class in Brazilian restraint ahead of Hefti’s ‘Li’l Darling’, Burrell’s chorded theme echoing the classic Basie recording, tempo just right. Guest vocalist Morrison raises the temperature each time she appears, bringing her hearty, soulful command to bear on Burrell’s vigorous title track, as she does on ‘Things Ain’t’, with the deep-toned Dumas, especially, and Cameron going hard, Almario pushing before Burrell’s splendid down-home solo. So, a mixed bag, as they say, showcasing a guitar master as much at ease with blues as swing, viz his dedication to the late BB King on ‘Confessin’ The Blues’ on acoustic, as he is with single-string, solo delicacy typified by the plangent ‘Single Petal of a Rose’. A happy date – good to hear.