In much the same way the honourable Mr. Shepp was to be the German pianist Joachim Kühn’s next clear collaborator , London quintet Empirical - an award-winning bop outfit rooted in the avant-garde – must have been a no-brainer when making up this evening’s double headline show.

With all the vibe-rant flair of the MJQ or latter-day Messengers, Empircal’s alto-saxophonist Nathanial Facey led this sharp-suited ensemble through an energetic, and at times, ambient set that sucked from their latest Elements of Truth album, spurring a lengthy approval that was close to greeting Shepp and Kühn’s later, and equally rapturous welcome to the stage.

Keen to pitch their own fresh release, and Archie himself ambushing compere Jez Nelson’s intros slot, the frail and lazy-suited Shepp, tailed by the more athletic Kühn, wasted no time in unfolding the minimalist moods of their Wo! man disc. Initiated by Transmitting’s deep, neo-classical piano runs, beautifully adorned by Shepp’s harsh breathy embouchure, the bulk of the set stayed true to the duo’s recent record, taking in Shepp’s barking blueser Driving Miss Daisy, Ornette Coleman’s haunting Lonely Woman and Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady, not to mention the almost tango tread of Nina, Shepp’s touching tribute to the late great Ms.Simone.

– Mark Youll