Forget KRS-One. With the return of drummer Ralph Peterson’s Fo’tet comes the return of the real boom bap. Peterson combines the power of Art Blakey, especially in his machine-gun rolls, with the unbridled polyrhythms of Elvin Jones. And he still brings the funk on The Fo’tet Plays Monk. Unlike the D.O.A. tributes currently clogging store shelves, Plays Monk is synergistic, because Peterson, with his quirky, muscular grooves, is the percussionist equivalent of Monk. The Fo’tet’s unique vibes/soprano sax/bass/drums lineup even takes on Thelonious’ “Brilliant Corners,” a song so difficult that the group that originally recorded it in 1956 (including such schmoes as Sonny Rollins and Max Roach) never finished a complete take; the song had to be patched together from 25 tries. The Fo’tet rounds “Brilliant Corners” with the traction of a Formula One racer, and takes the pole position at 8 & 10 p.m. at Blues Alley, 1073 Rear Wisconsin Ave. NW. $17. (202) 337-4141. (Christopher Porter)