To be released the day he turns 44 the aptly titled 44 is top session sax player Paul Booth's next album to be released by the Ubuntu label. Paul says: ''Following on from my album Trilateral recorded when I was 33 years old, 11 years later I thought ‘why not carry on with a theme’. My good friend Andrew Bain (also one of the drummers on this album) suggested recording a double quartet album, with both quartets playing at the same time. I loved the challenge of writing for this double quartet, especially when it came to figuring out how I was going to use two bass players. We recorded five originals, two freely improvised pieces which in my opinion really show how these exceptional musicians listen to one another and finally a new take on Miles’ ‘Four’.'' Check out the vibrant 'Blues in the Square' from the album above. Paul Booth photo: Monika S Jakubowska