A warm summer's night in Switzerland is arguably the best place to be for a set by the Average White Band. Recorded on July 10 1977 it was the band's only Montreux outing and is a superb reminder of the band in their ascendancy. As expected, this is almost a greatest hits selection spearheaded by their classic signature 'Pick Up The Pieces'.

Several pieces develop into an extended jam, such as 'Cut The Cake' and 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. The band never quite recaptured the impact of their 1975 second album and to an extent their early success was tainted by the drug excess which claimed guitarist Robbie McIntosh and almost the life of founder member Alan Gorrie.

This is a good enough document of one our very best soul and jazz funk outfits who could always teach our American cousins a thing or to about this genre. And, happily, the band still tour - although with only Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre as original members. This release is part of an excellent series of live concerts recorded at this major international jazz/rock festival.

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Review by David Randall