Late show verve from Deschanel Gordon

Punters queuing at Ronnie Scott's earlier last night

Cedar Walton's 'Hindsight' covered by such leading artists as Kenny Barron, Gary Versace and Emmet Cohen more recently was among the choice early set highlights of last night's Late Show at Ronnie Scott's hosted by trumpeter Mark Kavuma. Round midnight on a rainy night in Soho the tune from Jazz Messengers great Walton simply sends you there.

With Kavuma in the front line was once again lit up inside tenorist Mussinghi ('Songbird') Brian Edwards - read a full 2021 report of the superbly realised Kavuma Big Beat's 91 Living Room Brick Lane show - and from that same configuration in the band too on piano, a commanding presence in the rhythm section vaulting and grooving making a joyful noise on Ronnie's incredible top of the range Rolls-Royce of a Yamaha - Deschanel Gordon. And yet the band was different given that the powerful Jason Brown last night was a storming and welcome presence at the kit instead. Check out Brown on 'Andy's Shuffle' a highlight of Xhosa Cole's Ibeji last year.

Last night was a chance too for a first sighting of super lively relative newcomer Leeds bassist Jack Garside who was hugely mobile on the exhilarating Walton tune and on Mussinghi's 'Wayward's Return'. Final word we would be amazed if there isn't a bidding war among the major jazz labels to sign Deschanel given his national and international potential. He may not be actively carrying a torch for Walton, Mulgrew Miller or fellow Londoners Julian Joseph and Trevor Watkis whose style is also so apt in this context but Deschanel and the rest of the Kavuma band certainly know how much this music remains so very meaningful 70 years since hard bop's first shining hour.

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HANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: The busy Soho jazz scene is getting even busier especially mid-week. So in addition to the beacons of the scene Ronnie Scott's and Pizza Express Jazz Club - and when it puts on jazz, Crazy Coqs - the Boulevard (the former Raymond Revuebar) over in Walker's Court and the weekly Louche Bar session on Greek Street over by Soho Square are providing invaluable additional choice to the wider offering that also includes the admirable Spice Jazz down in the bowels of the Spice of Life pub over by the Hogwarts loving Palace Theatre.

Greek Street was the home at number 18 of the origins of the crucial satire boom in the 1960s because Peter Cook's The Establishment club was sited there along the street. Over the other side of Soho Square near the Pizza on Carlisle Street and still home to Private Eye the Piano Bar has become a jazz friendly spot as well in recent years.

But back to Greek Street and a rainy night in Soho - it's impossible not to think of Shane MacGowan's classic 1980s love song when it is tipping it down as punters dash across the jazz village - fans of Downton Abbey may recall that there was a fictional scene located in a dancing club the Blue Dragon located on the street (the on screen house jazz band included trumpeter Byron Wallen) where Lady Edith Crawley, Matthew Crawley, and Lady Rosamund Painswick go to find the jazz loving Lady Rose played by Lily James. Wild dancing and kissing ensued as the toffs descended determined to pluck Rose away from the decadent Soho night.

The jazz blue bloods in attendance - truth is stranger than class friction, eh - last night more like it and long led by fine tenorist Alec Harper here the great extra value was the presence of an icon of the UK jazz scene for many years with the Phil Robson and Julian ''Wiggy'' Siegel-led Partisans - Gene Calderazzo.

Hank Mobley's loping 1960 Blue Note classic 'Soul Station' is at the heart of the Louche bar sound.

Nick Costley-White, above left, Alec Harper and Ferg Ireland at the Louche last night.

An American in London for oh many years Gene is the brother of the classic Branford Marsalis Quartet and former Michael Brecker band stalwart, pianist Joey Calderazzo. Gene is a formidable player in his own right. Think less Gene Krupa - more the Sco flow know how of Adam Nussbaum. Gene is also since Partisans disbanded the drummer in The W, one of the very best UK bands to have proved themselves on recent recordings at the moment and whose Portrait has just been released. Their Kings Place EP last year set us on fire, understandably given its visceral impact.

The Harper band's signature tune for the Louche could be said to be Hank Mobley's 'Soul Station' that rang out again long and beautifully best of all last night. Guitarist Nick Costley-White quickly got into the zone modulating at ease, a big smile beaming out all over his face when the beat morphed into another tempo altogether organically at one point. The set started after a little delay awaiting double bassist Ferg Ireland and took a while to settle as amplification issues needed addressing given the very busy bar environment - the guitar amp dial needing to be nudged gingerly up. Calderazzo clearly inspired the band and passing jazz anoraks and flâneurs, this being Soho, alike. Gene Calderazzo, top, setting up, at the Louche

Late show verve from Deschanel Gordon

Alec Harper Quartet feat. Gene Calderazzo, Louche Bar, London ***