Growing up with older siblings made Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard etc. my earliest musical memories. So no surprise that a few years later I was sourcing vinyl from any black American blues and R&B artists I could find. Ironically, it was the white blues octogenarian, John Mayall, who sparked my interest in jazz with his “jazz/blues fusion” sessions. Nearly 50 years on and thousand of records later, I haven’t stopped exploring. Whilst I yearned for a musical career - alas, it never happened. However, 40 years as a criminal barrister and judge gave me the discipline to listen carefully before passing judgement. Essential skills for any record critic, you may think!