THOUGH he won the very first BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Competition in 2014, alto saxophonist Alexander Bone had not so far appeared here in his home town.

Brief glimpses in the area had included an appearance with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in Yarm and an invited guest slot with Liane Carroll in Richmond, but this was the first opportunity to see him with his band, The Jam Experiment.

This was originally formed with fellow students at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, though all the current members are now at different music colleges in London.

The band has an unusual but satisfying front line with Rory Ingham on trombone and Bone on alto, together with Toby Comeau electric piano, Joe Lee bass and Jonathan Mansfield drums.

Playing to a full house of friends, supporters and jazz fans, the band gave a tremendously satisfying and accomplished performance.

Still only first year students, they already sound a regular professional group both collectively and individually.

The bulk of the programme consisted of their own interesting and well-constructed compositions including such varied titles as Spider, Off on a Rant, Enough for me and The Dying Cowboy.

There was a thoughtful version of the late John Taylor’s Ambleside Days and the two standards they played demonstrated their ability to creatively improvise (All the Things You Are) or make something original from the very familiar (Watermelon Man).

Solos throughout were consistently inventive and the group spirit and balance even more impressive.

Peter Bevan