‘The Stranger in the Mirror’ is the first album from the side project of Cookin’ on 3 Burners’ organist, JAKE MASON. For the ten tracker he’s working with drummer Danny Fischer and guitarist James Sherlock and as ‘The Jake Mason Trio’ they set out to pay homage to those great Blue Note and Prestige, Hammond-led soul-jazz albums of the 60s. And with the collection, recorded in Melbourne using analogue equipment, they’ve done just that.

Amongst the album highlights is a wailing ‘Please Please Please’ (not the James Brown song, – an original, like all the tunes). This one features guest sax input from Paul Williamson who adds welcome shading. However, the best tracks to capture that magic Jimmy McGriff/Jimmy Smith/Jack McDuff feel are the ‘The Grain Store’ and the fabulous swinger that is ‘Candy Smack’. That one really does take you back to what Mason describes as “The place where soul meets jazz”.

THE JAKE MASON TRIO; The Stranger In The Mirror’ is out now on Soul Messin’ Records.