Drummer Ralph Peterson’s recordings are always stimulating and somewhat surprising. For this set, his “Fo’tet” consists of the leader, soprano saxophonist Steve Wilson, vibraphonist Bryan Carrott and bassist Belden Bullock. Their tribute to Thelonious Monk features the unit (which does not include a pianist) playing nine Monk tunes (including such difficult numbers as “Skippy,” “Played Twice,” “Criss Cross” and “Four in One”), plus a couple of originals, “Monkin’ Around” and “Spherically Speaking.” The light sound of the group contrasts with the “heavy” nature of the complex improvisations, and overall, this is a high-quality outing (adding to the jazz tradition rather than just copying the past) that is well worth several listens. – Scott Yanow
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