Tony Kofi Quartet "Plays Monk" was the first album released on Malcolm Mills’ Proper Records’ subsidiary Specific Jazz in 2005.  It was recorded by Paul Riley in the Proper studio in 2004, and represented the organic culmination of five years' of bandstand performances by Tony Kofi and the musicians associated with his Monk Liberation Front project. 

The  release heralded Tony’s arrival as a bandleader and fully formed soloist when it was immediately awarded the winner of the prestigious BBC Jazz Awards “ALBUM OF THE YEAR”.  With a real A-Team rhythm section behind him of Jonathan Gee, Piano; Winston Clifford, drums; and Ben Hazleton, bass, the Tony Kofi Quartet (with guest Orphy Robinson) take the themes of Thelonious Monk and give them a contemporary feel while never losing sight of the composer’s uniqueness.  

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The 20th anniversary reissue is out on all formats, including first-issue Vinyl 8th December 2023.‍

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Side One

Boo Boo's Birthday

Ugly Beauty

Trinkle Tinkle‍

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Side Two

Ruby My Dear

Brilliant Corners

Comin On The Hudson

We See‍

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Side Three

Crepuscule With Nellie

Teo

Misterioso‍

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Side Four

Gallop's Gallop

Light Blue

Think of One

Monk's Mood

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