Five Down Blues won't change your life but it certainly brightens the day chiefly among a number of pleasures in its favour for a chance to hear George Fludas the drummer here. I know him from his work with Monty Alexander hearing him live in Ronnie Scott's for instance going back to 2004 if memory serves me correctly. And he shines and is a swinging presence throughout this guitar-organ-drums record. Here with, new to me, Hammond organist Pete Benson who resembles Joey DeFrancesco's approach somewhat although he is less flamboyant a player and leader-guitarist Kyle Asche, a classic stylist with a poised touch and essential command of phrase. Worth a listen but if you have to choose opt for Nigel Price's Road Song in terms of recent releases and a fairly close comparison in terms of approach as a zestier pick. And yet Fludas' touch is persuasive within the elegant sound especially if you like say the touch of Pedro Segundo because both fine drummers have a lot in common and it's a fascinating listen. A record that does not set out to be challenging, an observation not a criticism! Asche comes into his own in the characterful version of Ray Evans and Jay Livingston's 'Never Let Me Go' introduced to the canon by Nat King Cole in the latter half of the 1950s that Monty himself did a fine version of included on 1979's In Tokyo. SG

Kyle Asche photo: Cellar Live/Bandcamp