Malone is the natural successor to Wes Montgomery and George Benson, a guitar stylist whose limpid touch and unruffled command place him among the best around. I can recall seeing him with Diana Krall and in a memorable duo appearance with pianist Benny Green at Brecon. Clearly a class act, as they say. Not heard too much about him recently so this is a welcome update on his current form. Opening with the catchy ‘Soul Leo’ composed by Mulgrew Miller, he launches into a well-wrought solo, adjusting to the tempo changes inherent in the piece, his compatriots clicking nicely, Germanson crisp and economical. Thereafter he alternates between soft-centred, lyrical songs like the pretty title track and finger-snapping originals, viz Thad Jones's ‘The Elder’ written for Freddie Green and George Coleman's peppy ‘Amsterdam After Dark’. It was never Malone's thing to get down and dirty; his music is always well dressed and tasteful but some grittier content would have been welcome, although his version of Freddie Hubbard's ‘Sioux Suite’ gets near.