THE opening night of a tour to launch a new CD was also the opening night of this year’s Georgian Jazz Festival.

The intimate surroundings of this small theatre are well suited to a small group like this who used only the slightest amplification and with several years’ experience playing together their internal balance was good, even with trumpeter Simon Dennis depping for the absent Graham Hardy.

Otherwise the line-up was the usual one with Chris Hibbard on trombone, Graeme Wilson mainly on tenor saxophone but also doubling on baritone and flute, Mick Shoulder double bass, Adam Sinclair drums and Paul Edis on piano.

They opened with Administrate This, a very suitable opening number with an infectious rhythm and good solos from almost everyone.

Then to The Timothys which had a slight African township feel with good ensemble sound and a lovely rolling piano solo by Edis.

Eastern, though, had a totally different sound from the front line, sounding quite mysterious at times, while Mr Hipster, the new CD’s title track, began with trombone and bass in unison with something of the cool swagger of a pink panther.

A particular highlight was Missing You, a beautifully eloquent if wordless love song which opened with a sensitive piano solo before bass and drums joined in softly followed by gentle flugelhorn and bass solos and more reflective piano to end.

Serial for Breakfast tested musicians and audience briefly before slipping into a funkier rhythm prompting a fluent tenor solo. A sensitive solo piano version of Skye Boat Song gave the front line time to get to the Gallery for some effective off stage fanfares and more rhapsodic piano allowed them time to return.

A couple of unannounced encores ended a typically enjoyable concert.

Peter Bevan