I'm a frequent exponent of music from the North, both national and continentally. Bands from Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool etc are often superior to their southern counterparts and Scandinavian and Lowlands rock 'n' roll have taken the lead over the mediterranean climes.

It hasn't always been like this, and somehow I equate the south of England's paucity with that of southern Europe's - once upon a time Italian-made scooters buzzed around Brighton and London, when things like turkish kebabs and olive oil were still something of an exotic treat. Not that I can see pickled herring becoming the number one desire of todays foodies.

Anyway, imagine my joy when I heard this wonderful get together of Dutch saxophonist Herman and vivacious trombonist van Lier, alongside the trio of Stan Tracey, the elderly statesman of British jazz. Tracey's piano hands were honed through decades of playing at Ronnie Scott's, for many years London's premiere jazz venue, and here, aged though he may be, he sounds just as young as the energetic Dutchmen. Recorded on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, the obvious treat is the first track, ‘Psychoville’, a snappy piece of Latin bop composition if ever I heard one.

The Mod album art fits in with the warmth and playfulness of the horns, sliding you into the chic world of 60s Italy. But its also cosmpolitan - ‘Psychoville’ could be Rotterdam or anywhere, London or Rome - hey, maybe the south isn't that bad after all. In these cold months perhaps we need to be more like Benjamin Herman, and look to Italy and Latin America for some musical warmth amid the wet and the wind.

Four stars

Dickie Byron