Marsalis casts a spell on you

Branford, sax scion of the famous New Orleans family, sees Ronnie Scott's putting in a strong finish to an in-and-out year. The magic was certainly back in its famous room last night, with all eyes on the bandstand and pin-drop silence from a spellbound crowd who had earlier given pianist Gareth Williams's trio similar attention, and deservedly so.

A more contemporary and less controversial player than brother Wynton, Branford opened with Mr JJ, a brisk minor-key number, by drum-mer Jeff "Tain" Watts, about his dog. Watts, a stocky powerhouse behind the kit, grimacing and carving at his cymbals with unusual curved motions, dug in ferociously from the opening bar, perhaps stung by the leader's quip that his tune was "of anecdotal interest in being written by a drummer but still being a good song".

Bassist Eric Revis, a visual clone of football bad-boy Stan Collymore, teamed brilliantly with Watts as Branford spun out complex, surging tenor lines like a modern-day John Coltrane.

Switching to soprano for one of Ornette Coleman's perky themes, Giggin', he weaved gracefully around Watts's rolling New Orleans beat before pianist Joey Calderazzo's bluesy contribution near the end.

Later, Branford selected a gentle ballad, Tonality of Atonement, by the late Kenny Kirkland, referring to him not as "our former pianist" but "our fallen comrade", a curious but topical wartime analogy. Was he thinking of Kenny as a victim of materialism, racism, narcotics or simply the Philistinism of the music business?

Tune in at Frith Street for further information. Every absorbing number this week is an education.

Branford Marsalis Quartet, Andrew McCormack Trio