Even before the outbreak of Covid-19, the upcoming US election was guaranteed to be fraught. This new project from esteemed violinist Regina Carter, reimagining familiar songs linked to key swing states, is a musical encouragement to get out and vote and a call for togetherness and understanding at a divisive and challenging time. On the opening track, one of several short interviews with members of the band, Carter explains why voting is important to her, referencing the struggles of her parents and grandparents who endured being beaten, hosed and chased by police dogs. “I had to go and vote,” she says, “because they went through so much ugliness in order to allow me the privilege…” Midway through the album she plays a heartfelt, solo rendition of the civil rights anthem ‘We Shall Overcome’.

Sombre moments aside, the tone of the record is mostly upbeat and fun, bluesy, swinging and full of laughter (most of it from charismatic pianist Jon Batiste). It's music to raise the spirits. ‘On Wisconsin!’ starts as a tongue-in-cheek parade tune then swings hard into the solos and ‘Rocky Mountain High’ sounds like a wild, jazz hoedown. The playing is excellent, and Carter is typically magisterial, swooning, slicing, stretching notes to breaking point, playing every phrase with feeling. She sounds like she's singing.