The Beninese, US, global scene guitarist-singer-composer-bandleader Lionel Loueke performing the music of Herbie Hancock released during a year when Herbie turned 80, his guitarist for more than 15 years, shows a lot of love and affection and above all deep immersion in the songbook of the greatest living jazz musician. It is an ocean of plenty.

With a couple of months to go it only remains to decide whether HH or Three by Gilfema, which is where the Loueke story started and continues as a side project, makes it to marlbank album of the year. Looks like a dead heat at least for now. Time living with HH is all it will take to decide come year end.

While 'Actual Proof' might well have been the ultimate standout track 'One Finger Snap' with its flattened note salt flavour and fleetness of foot seemed even more compelling. But then Loueke's treatment of the Fat Albert Rotunda lullaby 'Tell Me a Bedtime Story' where his beautiful voice comes into its own, always in tandem with his wondrous George Benson and Franco inspired guitar playing, seemed just perfect and it is. Two Hs, another two for heart. What the L, one love. Out on Edition