Over the past few weeks, Jon has introduced our 11 very special recording guests via Facebook and other social media.
"We thought we'd introduce the guests on the new album as we progress to the mixing process.
"First up is Dave Tidmarsh, although to say he's a guest is an understatement, he has been very much involved in the whole process. Dave is providing us with with drums on all tracks and will be mixing and producing the album. He has done a fantastic job playing drums complementing and adding to our style of music. No pressure Dave on the mixing and producing....
"The 2nd guest we're featuring here who is on the new album is the rather wonderful trombone player Tim Smart. Tim is the trombone player for, amongst many other things, The Specials and if you have seen the Book of Mormon in London it probably would have been Tim blowing.
"Tim's solo on 'Vote for Me' on the recent Number 1 Specials' album Encore, is a clue as to what a classy trombone player he is.
"We felt very lucky to have had Tim play a solo on one of our tracks.
"The third guest we're featuring who is on the album is the very talented Hari Trivedi on tabla who some may have seen performing live with us as well. Hari features on 5 tracks on the album. If you bought the last album you will have heard his playing on that too...we can't get enough tabla.
"Hari plays Indian classical music, jazz, funk, and drum and bass and is in great demand with many other acts. He’s also a great bloke.
"Our 4th guest on the album is Daphne Tucker. We needed a choral singer to provide a countermelody in a chorus of one of the songs. Daphne has performed at Carnegie Hall, Albert Hall and toured with choirs in Italy, France, Belgium and Wales all since retiring.
She’s also Jon's mum
"Our 5th guest on our new album is Mr Lynval Golding, who said I could introduce him as 'a miserable old git', but he is anything but that.
"A founding member of The Specials and Fun Boy Three, Lynval brings his vocal talents to join Ming on one of the tracks and needless to say he put his stamp on it well and truly.
"Our 6th guest on the album is saxophanist Benjamin Dady. His remit was a laid back solo over a track in 7/8.
Ben delivered the ultimate chilled sax solo...
"Our 7th guest on the album is our long term friend and music collaborator Russ Coleman. Russ was a member of Bluebird Parade (previous band to Project Blackbird). Russ is also one of the five frontline brass players in ska band Kingsize.
"For this album Russ has played all the trombone section parts.
"Our eighth guest is keyboard wizard Lee Spreadbury from Gu-ru, who casts his magic spell on a solo on a track...we needed something a little outrageous and Lee supplied it in bucket loads.
"Our ninth guest on the album is rapper Harry Stannard who appears on one of our tracks. Harry's distinctive style was just was this track needed and we're really pleased with the outcome... his final line is '... pray people get use to the difference'.
"We do too...
"Our penultimate guest on the album is Luke Moore who wrote and performed some super lush strings for two of the tracks.
"Our final guest on the album is our close friend Su Robinson.
"Su is known mainly as a sax player and tours with The South. She is also a member of Kingsize and Gladness and is a sought-after session player. For this recording we wanted a clarinet on two tracks and Su duly obliged."