Last night at Ronnie’s saw an intriguing double bill at the Brit Jazz Fest from two acts who like to let their compositions breathe. Pianist John Taylor and saxophonist Julian Argüelles played as a duo for the first time; before the Neon Quartet, led by Stan Sulzmann and featuring an all-star cast, took to the stage.

Taylor and Argüelles – two giants of UK jazz, it has to be said – played first in a low-key set that demanded, and thankfully got, the full attention of the audience. BBC Radio 3’s Jazz on 3 programme were also on hand to record the show for broadcast soon.

The magic in this performance lay in Taylor’s neat flourishes combined with Argüelles’ soft, unhurried playing – whether on tenor or soprano – which allowed them to be heard. Their set ranged from the new to the old, with a gem at the end. The pair are to release a new record at the end of the year, entitled Requiem For A Dreamer recalling Kurt Vonnegut, and the opening two cuts were taken from it; ‘So It Goes’, with a bittersweet melody, and ‘Unstuck in Time’. On the basis of those two songs, then the album should be well worth a listen when it comes out.

The other major highlight of the first set was the closer, ‘Phaedrus’, the title track of the Julian Argüelles Quartet debut album that featured Taylor and Argüelles’ only recorded collaboration to date.

If that weren’t enough, Stan Sulzmann came on alongside his Neon Quartet, with Sulzmann revelling in the chance to play with some “young blood”. The line-up was first class – Kit Downes on piano, Jim Hart on vibes and Tim Giles on drums. This quartet is a true collective, with three of the four band members’ compositions being aired, including a new one from Downes with the imaginative working title of ‘D Minor’, and other works from Sulzmann and Hart. The standout compositions were Hart’s ‘Passwords’, aptly named because of its interlocking melody, and Sulzmann’s ‘Skookum’, with its straightahead beat and pounding piano.

In other news, check out this: Ronnie’s are giving away a pair of tickets to two Brit Jazz Fest shows next week. Tuesday 10 August sees the London Improvisers Orchestra featuring Jason Yarde, plus the duo of Pete Wareham and Matthew Bourne, while on Thursday 12 August the Fest mounts the explosive trioVD as well as Partisans in a double bill.

So, Pete Wareham is performing at Ronnie’s next Tuesday with keyboardist Matthew Bourne. To get your hands on these tickets, name one of the other high profile jazz bands Pete regularly performs with.

If you think you know the answer, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the name of the band by Monday 9 August to be in with a chance to win.

– James Bourne