Stan Sulzmann and Nikki Iles showed just how much lyrical imagination, restrained virtuosity and empathy they possess as a sax/ piano duo with their Stardust album in 2016. Lush Life brings them together again on a repertoire of standards, originals, and a quirkily Latin-gliding John Taylor piece, with their graceful exchanges now augmented by a guest appearance from Dave Holland on bass – the latter’s softly springy lines bringing a fresh impetus to the partnership, as well as underpinning Iles to play with even more light-stepping understatement than she usually does.

Sulzmann plays tenor throughout, and his varied phrasing, expressive long sounds and briefly busy uptempo sprints on ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ occasionally recall the late great Bobby Wellins. Iles’ affection for Bill Evans hovers over her exquisite piano intro to ‘Who Can I Turn To’; John Taylor’s ‘Between Moons’ eases gently from free-floating tenor/piano musings to increasing animation over a camouflaged groove; Iles’ own gently bouncy ‘Iris’ sets Sulzmann roaming freely across the changes; and the poignancy of Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Lush Life’ is coupled to an effortlessly swaying groove in this trio’s ardent account. Today’s cutting-edges are a long way from this album’s agenda of course, but as a devoted exercise in decanting old wine into new bottles it’s beautifully done.