LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Ben Allison Quintet + Julian Seigel/Robert Mitchell

Award winning US bass prodigy appears here with his superb NYC-based band Man Size Safe – featuring Ron Horton (trumpet), Michael Blake (saxophones), Steve Cardenas (guitar) and Michael Sarin (drums). Taking his cues from fellow bassist Marc Johnson's influential '80s jazz-rockish 'Bass Desires' band, Allison and crew create a vivid blend of deep melodic hooks, through-composed themes and biting, heavy grooves. Angular sax virtuoso Seigel and piano whirlwind Mitchell support.