Taj Mahal,”Savoy” (Stony Plain Records)- Legendary roots music specialist Taj Mahal has been delighting audiences with his eclectic brand of blues since the mid sixties, and his latest venture finds the great man joining forces with veteran producer John Simon to breathe new life into some of the classic ditties which the denizens of Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom would have enjoyed at the height of the big band era. This unashamedly nostalgic project showcases a selection of timeless tunes from the repertoires of Louis Jordan , Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong to name but a few, with producer Simon chipping in on piano as his handpicked band of musical soulmates sashay effortlessly through gens such as “Summertime,” “Stompin’ At The Savoy” and “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby,” with the excellent Maria Muldaur guesting on a fine revamp of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”

Diana Jones,”Better Times Will Come Reimagined and Remastered” (Proper Records)-Diana Jones seemingly effortless ability to conjure compelling and utterly believable narratives from the ether has earned the New York raised singer-songwriter a whole host of glittering critical plaudits over the years, and for her latest musical project Diana has returned to her acclaimed 2009 album,”Better Times Will Come.” Aided and abetted by studio engineer Steve Addabbo the artist who has been dubbed “the Emily Dickinson of song” and “The Lost Daughter of the Carter Family” has overseen the reimagined mixes and changed the running order of this splendid set, with the late lamented Nanci Griffith supplying exquisite harmony vocals on two of the stand-out tracks,”Soldier Girl” and “Better Times Will Come “ itself. As an added bonus Diana has also chosen to include a hitherto unreleased track from the 2009 sessions,”Call Me Daddy,”to reflect changes she has envisaged since the original release.

Geraint Watkins,”Aide-memoire” (The Last Music Co.)- This veteran Welsh musician has seen service with a whole host of rock luminaries over the years, applying his impeccable skills as a sideman to recordings and live shows by everyone from Bill Wyman to Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison and Status Quo to name but a few. This warm and engaging singer, pianist and accordion ace may never have become a household name in his own right but his vibrant solo work always repays closer investigation and “Aide-memoire” supplies a near perfect introduction to the unique musical qualities which have made Geraint Watkins such a popular figure amongst the discerning rock fraternity for the past forty years or so, blending soulful self penned gems with his distinctive covers of such diverse ditties as Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” and the Beach Boys’ “Heroes and Villains.”