Stellar British saxophonist Tony Kofi is also a leading exponent of the music of Thelonious Monk. The compelling harmonic twists and tricks of time of songs that sound as modernistic today as they did in the 1960s have been brought to life on many occasions before by the multi-reedist, notably at the London jazz festival ‘Monkathon’ of 2004.

This studio recording, a BBC Jazz Awards winner no less, is a brilliant document of the creative head of steam built by Kofi and fellow members of the inspiringly named Monk Liberation Front – notably longtime collaborator, pianist Jonathan Gee – which captured hearts and minds at that memorable gig. Above all, the precise handling of the uniquely notty-nutty rhythmic pathways of ‘Think Of One’, ‘Crepuscule With Nellie’ and ‘Boo Boo’s Birthday’ are a delight.

The presence of Orphy Robinson on marimba and a very well-marshalled string quartet lends a layer of orchestral richness to the material, and also astutely underlines how much ‘classical’ mileage can be drawn from the rich fuel of Monk’s compositional language. Very welcome reissue of what is a somewhat overlooked classic in millennial jazz.