Thilo is the doyen of Danish saxophonists, a vastly experienced player who, for 25 years or more, was a standout soloist with the highly-rated Danish Radio Big Band. This while recording and working with many visiting or resident US soloists. That said, he has the kind of pedigree that marks him out a top man who, at 80 years old is still in his element leading a classy quartet like this one. And very good he sounds.

Hovering stylistically between mainstream and bop, he's canny harmonically, full-toned and properly centred, and can play the kind of extended soliloquy on a classic tune like ‘Body and Soul’ that Coleman Hawkins would have liked and then embark on ‘Just Friends’ as a fast-moving clear-out, or ‘Oh Gee’, a blues with clattery breaks for drummer Rifbjerg. He appears to have undimmed energy and the kind of creative capability that continues to impress. Yes, he hews close to the melody on standards and sometimes just concentrates on straight-ahead swing, much like the late Danny Moss did.

Thilo is also a fine clarinettist, classically trained, who can evoke his inner Goodman on ‘Memories of You’ and then play an affecting version of ‘If I Had You’. Mostly though, he's a burly tenor specialist, especially potent on the swingy ‘'Sweets to the Sweet’ where bassist Franck powers through and on ‘Lester Leaps In’, which segues into ‘Anthropology’ and uses Pettiford's ‘Montmartre Blues’ as the closer. Kristiansen, a Thilo regular, is with him all the way, turning in Peterson-like solos of quality. Imposing music.