Recorded in March last year at Nottingham spot Peggy's Skylight this is a very much social kind of gig recalled, the sort you hear in big cities usually in small bar/restaurants, the archetypal jazz habitat. These are not clinical places. The audience, consenting adults all, sometimes chat a bit too loudly. But if they decide to listen and keep chat to a minimum then it's better than a concert hall experience when everyone is rigid and coralled into rows patrolled by clipboard doorkeepers advising Trappist silence and extreme caution with the Darth Vader, mortal enemy to ushers everywhere, smartphone rocket-in-the-pocket. If there is too much chat the band have a way of responding usually by playing under conversation stuff (because what's the point as no one seems to be listening?) or if really narked by turning the amp way up to drown out all the usual inane chat they as well as everyone else can hear about house prices, the bins, dog litter, whether Line of Duty is coming back and gentrification - all the greatest hits.

They don't have to take such drastic measures here. Where there's a Wes there's always a way and 'Road Song' dedicated to the M1 quips Price who always seems to wear the same sports jacket is a highlight here on an unassuming download/streaming formatted album plucked from the Real Book. Price can play the phonebook and his quartet keep up with his effortless mastery. Fellow guitarist Genoa born Alessio Menconi shadows and plays Ginger to Fred while double bassist Louis Stringer is up to the refereeing task wringing textbook chord changes beat up nicely in diminutive fashion magicked out of the otherwise reluctant Nottingham air to lob over to the guitarists. Joel Barford, recently heard live in the sextet of Paul Edis, keeps stately time. But on the reggaefied 'Stomping at the Savoy' he could have been a good deal more violent. Hey ho.

MORE READING:

• Nigel Price and Andy Davies at Ronnie Scott's - live review from 2021

• Price's fine album Road Song - reviewed also in 21