Houston Person-So Nice ( Highnote 2011)

Here's something to delight the ears of anyone who treasures the classic Blue Note albums of the 60s, although it was recorded only last summer. Houston Person's tenor saxophone has all the hallmarks – poise, simple elegance and that mixture of gravitas and slight swagger that comes from having nothing left to prove. With a gold-plated rhythm section (John Di Martino, Ray Drummond, Lewis Nash), plus Warren Vaché on cornet, Mark Patterson on trombone and guitarist Howard Alden, it's a dream session. Person is now 77 and his playing just goes on getting better. This may be his best yet. Dave Gelly/The Observer