Saxophonist Rob Dixon and pianist Steve Allee co-lead a straight ahead jazz set on Standards Deluxe that has six features apiece for singer Amanda King and trumpeter Derrick Gardner.

The spirited program is full of variety with Ms. King adding happiness to six standards while Gardner explores five Dixon originals plus Caravan.

Standards Deluxe is a well-rounded and consistently exciting set of vintage songs and new originals by Rob Dixon and Steve Allee that will be of strong interest to lovers of swinging modern jazz.

1. Caravan (Duke Ellington)
2. Love for Sale (Cole Porter)
3. The Very Thought of You (Ray Noble)
4. Sway (Pablo Beltran Ruiz)
5. Our Love is Here to Stay (George Gershwin)
6. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislaw Kaper)

(Tracks 1-6 ft. Amanda King)
7. One Hundred
8. Lucky Number 7
9. Mind Mirror
10. If We Must Die
11. Flat Tire Blues
12. Caravan (Duke Ellington)
(Tracks 7-12 ft. Derrick Gardner)

This stunningly delightful collection opens with six from the warm, expressive voice of King, and we first get the dutifully emotive Caravan and veritably swinging Love for Sale and they are followed by the wholly impassioned The Very Thought of You, the finger-snapper, and aptly-titled Sway, before we are brought forth the joyous Our Love is Here to Stay and a rather wondrous rendition of On Green Dolphin Street.

Along next, and where the group become a quintet that now featured trumpeter Derrick Gardner, up first is the laid back, yet bubbling One Hundred and the medium tempo strut if Lucky Number 7, and they are in turn backed by the aching Mind Mirror, a hard swinging If We Must Die, his set rounding out on the impulsive Flat Tire Blues, closing on a fresh arrangement of Caravan.

Musicians:
Rob Dixon: Tenor and soprano saxophone, Steve Allee: Piano, Amanda King: Vocals, Derrick Gardner: Trumpet, Nick Tucker: Bass, Greg Artry: Drums (tracks 1-6) Kenny Phelps: Drums (tracks 7-12).