Gilles Peterson/Various

BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson’s mantra has always been connecting the dots between seemingly disparate musical genres, and while this is an ostensibly house-focused project, Peterson subtly nods to jazz and disco to provide a highly enjoyable and educational context for his entry in Defected’s In the House series. The soulful and strong house set on the first of three CDs featuring the likes of Blaze and Phil Asher starts off low-key and veers into tribal territory and undeniable floor stompers like Sandy Rivera and Jose Burgos’ "This Will Change It” before ending with an infectious, jazzy collaboration featuring Fertile Ground vocalist Navasha Daya. On the second CD, Peterson lets his soul boy flag fly high, throwing down classic boogie-oriented beats and breaks from the likes of Weldon Irvine, Johnny Hammond and John Lucien that will playfully nudge the listener, leaving you looking ruefully at your own collection. Peterson’s mixing style has its detractors but his unobtrusive approach here elevates his always impeccable selections. The third CD is actually unmixed but is full of rare and limited edition mixes of house tracks that only tastemakers like Peterson tend to procure. However, rather than encouraging an elitist attitude, Peterson’s 52 tracks foster a spirit of joyful inclusion and surprising unity.