Westbrook’s Band of Bands could hardly be better titled. This is a new band comprised of master musicians that have played in many of the Westbrooks’ line ups across the decades, from the street wise Brass Band to the assembled masses of the Uncommon Orchestra.

This sumptuously recorded live show sunbursts open with a joyous post-bop ‘Glad Day’, from the Westbrook Blake album of the same name, and includes the inevitable nod to Ellington with a dazzling re-work of Strayhorn’s ‘Johnny Come Lately’. That’s not the obvious context for an accordion solo, but Street’s contributions are formidable throughout, typically reflecting that Westbrook gift for allying uncommon combinations of instruments.

The band also profits from the hard swinging, foot-to-the-floor bass/drum combo of Vergette and York. But when the band takes it down as on newer sung material like ‘Yellow Dog’, an easeful grace emerges. And only Kate Westbrook could out-Dietrich Dietrich on the wickedness of ‘Black Market’, with Street again outstanding.

There are virtues too numerous to mention herein, but the band’s spirit is summed up in the closing ‘What I Like’, a Kate lyric celebrating life’s treasure of pleasure. A band for all seasons from composers with a gift for conjuring up the gladness of hearts. Here’s to life.