Well, where has he been: Woodshedding? Er, definitely no need in the case of Mark Whitfield whose muscle memory, sheer artistry particularly, and monstrous technique on guitar is always a pleasure to behold and take as read.

Late-January isn’t too far, is it, to wait for Grace, the album scratching a seven-year itch during which we waited in vain, exasperated, for a new album. 

A family band record, Mark’s sons Davis and Mark Jr join dad and honorary Whitfiedlian Yasushi Nakamura, on bass, among the personnel, vocals factored in thanks to Sy Smith. Staggeringly Whitfield clocks up 15 albums as a leader with this new record.

The 1990s jazzer (eg more or less “peak Young Lion”), check the soulful George Benson/K.Eubanks-esque title track played live at Jazz Fest, above