Smiling Organizm, Ronnie Scott's

Superlativesare quickly exhausted when outlining the extraordinary appeal of the very international band Smiling Organizm. Bandleader and composer, the Russian saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev, is both virtuosic and volatile, schooled in the tradition of post-bop, but with an extravagant arsenal of special effects, including melodic twists and hooks, passages of explosive rhythm, and the kind of runs that make Usain Bolt look like a slouch.   

Yet Strigalev’s formidable technique and composition, while sophisticated, is also driven by a tangible, irrepressible sense of fun, full of exotic gestures and experiment, so the formal complexity of the music is balanced by a spontaneous, infectious atmosphere of chaotic play.

The star-studded line-up of the band is another attraction. Strigalev has recruited three of America’s most sought-after performers, the drum and bass duo of Eric Harland (who has collaborated with a roll-call of jazz greats including McCoy Tyner and Wynton Marsalis) and Larry Grenadier (Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau) with young, but already much-feted trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. They are joined by the superb British pianist and improviser Liam Noble, and Paris-based electric bassist Linley Marthe. Apart from Noble, these players rarely perform in London, and it’s a rare opportunity to see them; together, they are dynamite.  

Smiling Organizm’s range of sounds, ranging from swinging tunesto improvisation, to the rock-edged attitude of New York’s Downtown scene, make this both unmissable for the serious jazz fan, but also a superb and accessible introduction to some of the best contemporary jazz for an open-minded newcomer.

Ticket price: £20-£35