The brainchild of pianist/organist George Cooper, the Bristol-based Jazz Defenders claim that they are ‘defending the spirit of hard bop jazz’, as personified by the likes of Horace Silver, Lee Morgan and Art Blakey. That’s an endeavour which will win plaudits from thousands of jazz lovers up and down the land, but Cooper and company are no tribute act churning out yet another cover of ‘The Sidewinder’ or ‘Song For My Father’ – they channel that hard bop spirit by playing all-original material. Some feat, especially as that material (mostly written by Cooper) is of real quality: catchy, energetic with top-notch arrangements and fine soloing from all the players.

The opening 'Meanderthal' sets the scene for the next 40 minutes, getting proceedings off to a suitably funky start with swinging drums and a deliciously Morganesque trumpet solo; 'Snakebite Playfight' has a soulful Freddie Hubbard vibe; 'Chasing Fantasies' swings majestically, giving the band space to cut loose on some smoking solos; the bubbling, shuffling 'Fuffle Kerfuffle' recalls Blakey at his best; there's even a hip-hop/jazz dancefloor banger, 'Rolling On A High' and a jazz fusion jam, the footstompingly hyper-funky 'Net Zero' which, at under four minutes, never outstays its welcome.

But Cooper and company also know how to mix up the mood and tempo. Thus 'Take A Minute' adopts a lazy, rolling groove overlaid with horn and vibes embellishments, the result sounding like the soundtrack to an imaginary late 1960s trippy film. However, the biggest surprise (and perhaps the single best moment on the album) is saved until last: 'Enigma', recorded live in Paris features just Cooper on piano and Harris on double bass. It's a poignant, introspective piece that recalls Bill Evans at his most romantically lush and is the perfect way to end a near-perfect album.

A deeply statisfying jazz treat.