Even when travelling light, Pharoah Sanders remains a substantial proposition. The mighty US tenorman blew into Ronnie’s last night minus his usual bass and drums and with only his faithful pianist, William Henderson, and a hand-drummer for support. No ordinary hand-drummer, mind you, but the magnificent Puerto Rican percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo.

Things nevertheless got off to an uncomfortable start for Sanders. An imposing white-bearded figure in his threequarter-length ethnic-weave jacket, he tetchily tested the saxophone mike and found it wanting. He was also having reed problems. Between solos he twice left the bandstand, presumably to try other reeds, but continued to be plagued by intermittent squeaks.
 
Manfully he struggled to hit his stride with extended solos on an untitled flamenco-like cadence and three Coltrane classics. Naima, Trane’s greatest ballad, was delivered in a keening, almost Bedouin tone. Resolution, from A Love Supreme, conveyed peace after the storm, and the set-closer, Giant Steps, featured Henderson at his best. His solo somehow quartered the tempo without sacrificing its pulse, emphasising instead the fugue-like bass-line of this wondrous piece. Appropriately bracing stuff for a month which will see this great club celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Until Friday (020 7439 0747).