Whatever the biting cold outside inflicted on the audience, the blistering heat generated by The Jive Aces’ opening number soon dissipated the effect.

The high-energy band, endlessly moving around in their yellow suits, provided non-stop performances of 1950s music – a case of Bill Haley meets Big Band Swing.

Their attempts at comedy sadly fell flat and the band should stick to what they do best – music.

Highlights included a boogie-woogie number with the pianist emulating the antics of Jerry Lee Lewis, and a sizzling version of Sing! Sing! Sing! which provided a glorious end to their set.

Topping the bill was jazz legend Kenny Ball – long past bus pass age and still blowing up a storm after more than 50 years of leading a band.

He showed no fear in hitting the high notes.

Amongst jazz standards including That’s A Plenty and Someday You’ll Be Sorry, past hits Sukiyaki and Midnight In Moscow came across with a freshness that was lacking in the hackneyed Jungle Book Song.

A swinging drum solo and a thrilling jazz version of Bach’s Toccata proved highly popular, with both bands combining for the finale – a version of The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love.