Haidu, a former Kenny Barron student, considers the late Kenny Kirkland – who died in 1998 aged only 43 – an under-estimated near-genius as both a pianist and composer, having first become enamored of his playing when Kirkland was with Sting.

Doctone is the first element in a three-part tribute to his hero, seen by most as a ‘party guy’, the balance to include a film documentary and a book also entitled Doctone, apparently a Kirkland nickname. The booklet that accompanies this release includes extracts from illuminating interviews with Wilson, Hart, Ronnie Burrage, Mark Sherman and Rodney Jones that will appear in that book eventually.

Otherwise devoted to Kirkland's compositions, the album opens with a short, elegiac trio improvisation, ‘The Director of Tone’, as an initial homage to Kirkland. Thereafter, the harmonic complexity of KK's compositions as selected by Haidu is underpinned by adroit rhythmic variations, the sinewy ‘Steepian Faith’ moving from a soprano-led motif over stop-time chords and into tempo, Coolman and Hart in perfect accord, as Wilson re-enters in fiery fashion. ‘Midnight Silence’ is gently percussive, Wilson on soprano over Hart's simmering cymbals. There are two versions of ‘Dienda’, both by the trio, the one skeletal, quite solemn, out of tempo; the other in ¾, Haidu evincing Tyner-like application, and ending with sonorous chords. ‘Mr PC’, is a standout, its perky theme taken fast by Haidu and Thomas, the tenorist voluble over driving input from Coolman and Hart, ahead of some of Haidu's most dynamic playing, this matched on the splendidly intricate ’Chambers of Tain’, where Thomas again stretches out. While there may be an element of reverence here, the horns under-used, it's clear Haidu can certainly play when he wants to.