Not that other instruments weren't welcome; the brief, consummately imaginative solos that pianist Steve Hamilton presented during director Tommy Smith's epic Torah suite drew loud applause and the reception at the end must have taken into account the fabulous sound, marvellously manicured section playing and overall assurance that this ensemble seems able to bring to whatever composition is placed on its music stands.

It was a saxophonist's night, and Smith brought forth every last vestige of his repertoire, from big, deeply resonant, uncompromisingly meaty improvisations to the smallest sounding, high register baby tenor cries, showing a composer-soloist utterly engaged with his material.

Julian Arguelles, a player rarely heard in his adopted home country of late, showed a similar involvement with his two, self-composed features, Asturias and Phaedrus, the former highlighting a beautifully light arranger's touch and a tenor improvising with feeling through folk song and dance-inspired textures. Experience in orchestral jazz environments showed in altoist Ruaridh Pattison's cogent and freshly phrased interpretation of Miles Davis's Joshua, in a superb arrangement by Bob Mintzer, and two contrasting pieces, Bobby Wellins' Battle and Michael Brecker's African Skies, found Parisian Sylvain Rifflet in urgent, foggy-toned communion with the former and breezily adopting the latter's carefree mood for a fine, celebratory finale.

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