A reference to the neurofibramatosis of the left foot from which he has suffered his whole life, A Mile In My Shoe is another notable album in Orrin Evans’ discography. Since his emergence as a sideman to the likes of Bobby Watson in the 1990s, the pianist has made contemporary jazz with a strong blues and gospel quotient and this big band offering is no exception to the rule. More specifically, his writing has a sense of deep roots, highlighting the developmental line between Basie, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder by way of brash shout choruses, hard swung riffin’ and soulful motifs.

While these references lend a familiarity to the work Evans is wont to throw curveballs, such as the hovering, tantalizing wordless spiritual ‘Hymn’ and fine collaborations with A-list singers Lisa Fischer, Paul Jost, Joanne Pascale and Bilal. The version of the latter's ‘All That I Am’, a pivotal piece of millennial neo-soul, is an absolute gem, with Evans’ arrangement remoulding the original electric colours to a finely shaded horn palette set to a fraught underlying rhythm. Guest soloists, trumpeter Sean Jones and organist Jesse Fischer add a welcome flourish on occasion, but this is a work of well-co-ordinated collective skills that serve the leader's homely compositions.