US guitarist and composer Rotella, now 73, rarely ventures into jazz, having been immersed very fruitfully in the Hollywood studios for the past half-century. His credits cover the great names of popular music, Sinatra among them, TV sessions and soundtracks, jingles galore – but happily for us, HighNote has him paying tribute to the jazz organ trios of the 1960s and what a cracking job he and his pals make of it.

Bobby Floyd, an ex-Ray Charles sideman who once opened for the great man, knows exactly how to navigate these funky themes. Think Grant Green and organist Brother Jack McDuff and you’ll know what they’re collectively about. Add in the sheer rhythmic zest engendered by veteran drummer McCurdy and this is quite a package.

Rotella’s ‘Who Dat?’ is just right: a neat guitar riff with stop-time chords, before the solos, Floyd cooking in abundance. The title track has Alexander handling the twists and turns of the tune, with admirable aplomb, his solo typically direct, Rotella’s clear lines a further asset. Pelt comes in on Marvin Gaye’s ‘Don’t Mess With Mr T’, a quiet groover, with the trumpeter muted, Rotella underpinned by Floyd’s cushioning chords, percussion added. Classy. ‘Roy’s Groove’ is a standout: a chunky riff, McCurdy triumphant, swinging hard, Floyd flowing, Rotella bearing down.

Tadd Dameron’s lovely ‘On A Misty Night’ is, Rotella says, his take on the George Shearing sound, with strings and keys locked together in fetching style. Pelt returns for ‘Three Views of a Secret/Goodbye Pork Pie Hat’, drummer and organist changed, the effect quite ethereal, echo added: atypical of the album as a whole. A certainty for my year-end Top 10.