Swinging and mellow the unusual aspect to this record is that San Diego-based flautist Hofmann restricts herself to alto flute. That low characterful sound has plenty of presence throughout the nine tracks bookended by Diana Krall guitarist Anthony Wilson’s composition ‘Jack of Hearts’ and a suitably stately take on Pat Metheny’s ‘Farmer's Trust’ (a tune heard on 1983 live album Travels).

Wilson’s contribution is felt strongly even though he’s only on four of the nine tracks, his pristine modern mainstream guitar style the foil to Hofmann’s accessible soloing. Hofmann’s husband pianist Mike Wofford, plus bassist John Clayton (another Krall connection who has written a Cedar Walton tribute here called ‘Cedar Would’) and drummer Jeff Hamilton, the third and final link to the Canadian vocal star, are the core band. Sounding immaculate this studio album is Hofmann's twelfth, and as the flautist is usually heard on a C flute this album might come as a surprise to regular listeners of the Cleveland-born player. Likeable and easy going there’s plenty here to savour, Hofmann a persuasive soloist in the Frank Wess tradition, and unless you have a life-threatening allergy to dinner jazz then this alto flute project won't lay you low in the slightest. SG

Released on 20 May