Sadly, after the excitement of the Ropetackle's South Coast Jazz Festival over the weekend, this gig on a wet Tuesday evening was unable to attract much of an audience.

But fans of contemporary jazz missed a real treat with the debut of this new band and the opening night of their UK tour, presenting material from their album Come To Me.

Defiantly not swing style, compositions by the Polish singer and Israeli drummer melded a fusion of influences.

At times angular or wistful, the band was always rhythmically intense and exciting, led by Sirkis' formidable drumming. Bialas' vocals, a mix of wordless improvisation and Polish lyrics, were ethereal yet precise, contributing some effective solos, but occasionally sounding a little thin.

Bass and piano were tight, though Frank Harrison's distinctive and always intriguing piano playing, also suffered from a little muddiness in the mix.

The accessibility of Sirkis' approach was evident in a Konnakol solo (an Indian rhythmic singing technique), and a more traditional drum solo delivered with absolute clarity and confidence.

The exuberance and intensity of Harrison's playing reached a high pitch in the last number as he switched to electric piano, and the band seemed to find their true spirit.

Four stars