Brandon Allen Quintet @ The Cluny.

Brandon Allen (ten/alt), Chris Allard (gtr), Ross Stanley (kybd), Oli Hayhurst (bs), Nick Smalley (dms).

The Cluny tonight was hot, the air conditioning non existant and the pre-performance CD arguably the worst CD I have ever heard. Don't ask me what it was just make sure that I never hear it again (I did of course - during the interval).

However, these minor inconveniences disappeared when the Brandon Allen Quintet were launched into orbit.

Playing mainly originals by the leaderman, this was straight down the middle, yet at the same time ultra contemporary, modern jazz that pulled from the first chorus.

Allen is blisteringly fast and his tenor came over as forceful and strident, so much so that Russell, sitting at the back of the hall, found it almost overpowered the guitar. Upfront there wasn't a problem. Allen had one alto feature and he proved equally facile on that instrument too.

Chris Allard, a self-effacing young man, turned in some punchy solos and the guitar/tenor frontline, sometimes in unison othertimes in harmony, were an effective combination.

Bass and drums did everything right as did pianist Ross Stanley.

Stanley is the man to watch. His solos simply burst with ideas and I'm sure he has a big future ahead of him.

Lance.