Star of last year's orchestral tribute to Charles Mingus at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Lakecia Benjamin has proved herself capable of fronting a large-scale project with a historical theme, but her own albums have not been short on ambition. Her previous offering, Pursuance: The Coltranes, inspired by the innovative husband and wife team, is followed by this new work that deals with rebirth and renewal, encapsulated by the myth of the phoenix, though the set is inflected towards contemporary realities both for African-Americans and a post-pandemic world.

Rhythmically, Benjamin's songs move coherently from heavy, funky backbeats to zestful swing to Dolphy-like avant-blues, and her punchy, high-energy attack and growling, rasping tone lend authority and momentum to the material, which is helmed by a fine rhythm section.

That said, it is the input of a number of legendary black women from times past and present – activist-academic Angela Davis, poet Sonia Sanchez, keyboardist Patrice Rushen, vocalist Dianne Reeves and producer-singer Georgia Anne Muldrow – that gives the work a real sense of character. And the appearance of Wayne Shorter against type – reciting a spoken word interlude rather than playing saxophone– is an interesting curveball that lands on the right side of thought-provoking. Since her 2012 debut Retox Benjamin has been an impressive soloist with the chops to hold the biggest of stages, but, as this accomplished release proves, she has the equally important ability to make records in which socio-political content sits very well with musical nouse. Like the magical creature that is born of the ashes, Benjamin is on metaphorical fire.