Two legendary jazz players – Billie Holiday and Paul Lester – are bought back to life in the latest offering at the Rialto Theatre Brighton.

My Friend Lester traces the legendary collaboration between Billie Holiday and saxophonist Lester Young exploring a doomed but sustaining relationship built on the chemistry of their music.

The audience is treated to an evening of Holiday songs with the author, Maria McAteer as Holliday and Bjorn Dahlberg, as Lester producing typically mellow and pleasing performances.

The play is given added impetus by the addition of a backing group in the form of a double bass player, George Berrills and pianist, Timothy Wells.

A touch of atmosphere is given by setting out the theatre as a club and seating the guests at tables.

As a note of caution, the musical bond between the two great performers was not enough to sustain their relationship and both succumbed to early deaths as a result of drug and alcohol abuse.

But if it is an evening of jazz with some insights into the minds of two giants of their era, this is the show for you.

Four stars.