Sharp’s earlier albums teamed her with another front-line player, here she goes it alone, albeit with a fine rhythm section to support and inspire her. On this evidence and from her recent live performances, Sharp is gaining in maturity and creativity, her improvisations spacious, swinging and coherent. Not one to rabble-rouse, she prefers to present her solos as lucid arguments, never ruffled or hurried, her tenor sound centred and warm.

On the opening track, a nine-minute version of ‘Love Is A Many Splendored Thing’, it’s possible to detect something of Scott Hamilton’s yearning quality, the thematic exposition and solo playing unfurling seamlessly, Iles’s piano interpretation crisp and direct, Green and Brown tucked in admirably. Kurt Weill’s ‘My Ship’ works equally well, Sharp using her low-register sound and poised melodic evaluation to create a memorable performance. It’s languorous yet heartfelt, Iles again pertinent and inventive in her solo, always harmonically sure-footed. Much the same goes for Kenny Wheeler’s ‘Everybody’s Song But My Own’, with an Iles intro and Green’s initial melodic statement and more pleasing tenor. As a fan of Sharp’s baritone playing, ‘Eronel’ with its neat harmonised line, and greater urgency is a standout track for me, Brown kicking hard and Sharp edgier in her solos. In sum, a rewarding album: thematically diverse and classy, Sharp fronting a well-integrated quartet in business-like form. Hear them on tour soon.