I saw Basquiat Strings at Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion in 2008, not long after they were nominated for the Mercury. The support act that night was Portico Quartet, themselves nominated for the prize later that year. Portico went on to achieve something approaching mainstream success. Basquiat Strings, by far the more interesting act, did just the opposite. They disappeared.

Now we learn that the group did record a follow-up album, in 2009, but it is only now seeing the light of day. Although exploring roughly the same chamber jazz territory, Part Two is a more mature album. The musicians are superb, while leader Ben Davis makes natural bedfellows of Brahms, Mingus, Hungarian folk and systems music. The playing is subtle and sensitive but never effete, and both rhythmically and harmonically complex: ‘Calum Campbell’ feels danceable despite what is effectively a 17/4 time signature.

For Davis, of course, this is ancient history: though very happy with Part Two, he is, as I type, touring with new material and a largely new line-up. Fingers crossed for a Part Three. In the meantime, we are left with a superb album from one of UK music’s neglected but most rewarding peaks.