The jazz club element, which runs parallel to the big concert hall and major space programme of the London Jazz Festival, is a vital part of the continuing success and energy of the fest. While some cities, even capital cities in most parts of the world have at least one or two functioning seven days of the week jazz clubs, London has a half a dozen who put on jazz every day and week of the year plus lots more who put on jazz over several days of the week.

Last night at the 606 in Chelsea, one of the all-week all-year-round jazz clubs, run by Samara flautist Steve Rubie, it was a rare opportunity to catch one of the pianists Steve himself tipped for great things more than a decade ago. For pianist Gwilym Simcock it’s been a great year as the 30-year-old north Wales born Manchester schooled wünderkeysman not only attained the Holy Grail of a Mercury nomination this year for Good Days At Schloss Elmau and with UK/US supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen released a critically acclaimed debut that only goes to further emphasise his already fully recognized clout as a monstrous improviser. He’s easily the most significant UK jazz pianist to emerge since Django Bates and Julian Joseph. Simcock was appearing with his SGS trio featuring Russian bass virtuoso Yuri Goloubev and the first call drummer Asaf Sirkis of the Orient House Ensemble and Lighthouse Trio.

Kicking off with an affectionate paean to Allan Holdsworth belovèd of not only The Mighty Boosh but also of Simcock who in his early career went through the tough post-prog jazz retraining ground of Earthworks, then continuing with a filigree homage to pianist John Taylor next. When Iain Ballamy, another Earthworks alumnus, joined and played the laconic and beautifully resolved ‘Floater’, the title of which he forewarned us always gets a titter and duly did, plus a selection of ballads including ‘East of the Sun’ (And West of the Moon)' and best of all ‘My Foolish Heart’, the latter a significant reminder of Ballamy’s supreme talent as a fine ballad interpreter. Look out for a new Food album from Ballamy next year which has been recorded and after mixing at the legendary Rainbow in Oslo will be released on ECM.

– Stephen Graham