"During the last 12 years," writes Elvis Costello in the liner notes to My Flame Burns Blue, "I've had the opportunity to work with a number of contrasting ensembles, from chamber group and jazz big band to symphony orchestra."

On this adventurously sophisticated live disc recorded at a 2004 jazz festival, he splits the difference, teaming up with the legendary Dutch Metropole Orkest -- a jazz orchestra with a string section -- to revisit and revamp 14 cuts from throughout his career.

Highlights include a swellegantly lush version of Almost Blue; a wild update of Trust's Clubland that careens from samba to swing to circus waltz; a jump-blues cover of Dave Bartholomew's That's How You Got Killed Before; a swinging version of Mingus's Hora Decubitus with lyrics by Costello; a soundtrack-sized upgrade of When I Was Cruel's Episode of Blonde; and a snazzy finger-popping reinvention of Watching the Detectives. Granted, it doesn't rock. But it sure is a cut above the usual live-album predictability.

Of course, what else would you expect from the most unpredictable artist in contemporary music?

As a bonus, Costello supplies lengthy anecdotes on all the songs, along with full lyrics.

Also included, for no apparent reason, is a bonus disc with excerpts from his 2004 orchestral offering Il Sogno.

Track Listing:

Disc 1:
1. Hora Decubitus (Mingus/Costello)
2. Favourite Hour
3. That' Show You Got Killed Before (Bartholomew)
4. Upon a Veil of Midnight Blue
5. Clubland
6. Almost Blue
7. Speak Darkly My Angel
8. Almost Ideal Eyes
9. Can You Be True?
10. Put Away Forbidden Playthings
11. Episode of Blonde
12. My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count) - Strayhorn/Costello
13. Watching the Detectives
14. God Give Me Strength (Bacharach/Costello)

Disc 2:
1. Il Sogno Suite