From the very opening bars of Hoagy Carmichael's ‘Stardust’ – not, by any means, an easy song to nail – Josh Kyle's unfailingly beautiful tone, crystal clear articulation and super-fine phrasing announces a singer with a real jazz sensibility. Judiciously balancing standards, vocalese and the newly composed, Kyle's interpretation of ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ – recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Chet Baker, among others – is outstanding in its emotive power and coiled-up intensity. Using his falsetto to great effect, the singer even manages to bring fresh perspective to ‘Round Midnight’, a song so done to death that some kind soul ought to read it the last rites.

Two songs co-written with bassist, producer and arranger Geoff Gascoyne, ‘Save The World’ and ‘Roll On’, suggest a fruitful writing partnership in the making. As well as Gascoyne, Kyle receives heroic support from Tom Cawley (a thrilling Fender Rhodes solo on Djavan's ‘Amazon’ is a highlight), in-demand drummer Ralph Salmins, and the singer's mentor Claire Martin, who joins him on his terrific vocalese interpretation of Wayne Shorter's ‘Yes And No.’