Hidden in York Way, behind King’s Cross station, a lavish multi-space arts centre apparently designed for 25ft-tall aliens, has risen. Last night the F-IRE Collective, quickest to establish jazz there, opened a week’s festival. Fringe Magnetic, a youthful dectet led by trumpeter-composer Rory Simmons, were first up. Their piano star Ivo Neame reappeared with Phronesis, featuring drummer Anton Eger and bassist Jasper Hoiby. Fond of busy cross-rhythms and staccato bass patterns, they avoided the predictable yet hit a respectable groove.

Django Bates finally introduced StoRMChaser, the 18-piece orchestra from Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory. With them the bard of Beckenham created two hours of magic. His synth and tenor-horn solos were phenomenal. Better still were his arrangements, crazy masterpieces of dazzling complexity and delightful humour.

Moods changed in mid-phrase, as when brass shouts gave way to a handsome ballad fragment for singer Josefine Lindstrand. A cod version of In the Mood veered from Glenn Miller to JS Bach. Only a band drilled for years could play so beautifully on the very brink of chaos. In mischievous form, Django dedicated It’s Almost All Over to Iceland. Later he quipped: “One thing I detest is audience participation.” Cupping an ear to us, he added: “What do I detest?”

Tonight: Ingrid Laubrock and Polar Bear (0844 264 0321).