Lazy Piano Man, Salty Dog, It Had to be You, Farewell to Storyville, Sweet Patootie, Wild Man Blues, Down in Jungle Town, The Glory of Love, Oh! Peter, Shine, Minnie the Moocher, My Gal Sal, See See Rider, C-Jam Blues

This CD is special - buy it. Do I need to say more? Oh, all right then.

Mr Piano man, Pat Hawes, says that, apart from working out a routine for each number, the music is unrehearsed as he wanted to preserve the spontaneous feel of improvised jazz. The first tune is ' Lazy Piano Man', but rather than being lazy I think that Pat is relaxed. So are the rest of the fine line-up of jazzmen who make up the 2000 Band. Alan Elsdon is a particular favourite of mine, especially on muted trumpet, Goff Dubber is an outstandling skilled reedsman, Mike Pointon who plays a very individualistic style of trombone, and John Rodber on bass and Rex Bennett on drums laying down the ever present, but discrete rhythm line. This is laid back jazz that is beautiful to listen to, even Pat's singing!

This may not be the best album of the Millennium, but it could well be the best of the year 2000.

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