London-based jazz band the Leo Appleyard Quintet brought some smooth beats and intricate solos to The Verdict in an intimate gig.

With band leader Leo Appleyard on guitar, Duncan Eagles on saxophone, Max Luthert on bass, Eric Ford on drums and guest Paul Jordanous on trumpet, the band are renowned for complex rhythms and lyrical melodies.

Leo’s imaginative and rich compositions provided a perfect framework for some soaring solos from Duncan and Paul, much to the enthusiasm of the delighted crowd. While many such solos began understated and fluent there was plenty of scope for their virtuoso talents to shine.

A particular highlight was Walsio, which opened with an unaccompanied bass solo before moving effortlessly into the elegant and varied harmonies which characterised the evening.

Their current tour promotes their first album, Pembroke Road, on which many of the evening’s tracks feature. Leo’s next enterprise, an eight-piece electronic project, will take him away from jazz and into new areas. “There’s always something new going on” he said, “At the moment I love playing jazz, and next month it may be something different.”

With such exciting new projects in the works, the profile of these young and talented musicians looks set to rise.