It was a fitting end to a year of great gigs. Blues and Rhythm magazine recently dubbed Al Nicholls as the UK’s “top tenorman”. He cemented this reputation with a blistering performance at the Albion, Hove’s premier afternoon jazz spot.

An enthusiastic crowd had gathered to listen to the trio.  The other members of the trio were Mick Hamer on electric piano and Nick McGuigan on bass. There were several musicians among the crowd. The UK’s top tenorman is always worth listening to. Among the faces were the bassist Alan Kennington, the drummer John Muxlow, saxist Lawrence Jones and local singer Juliet Devereux, who got up to sing a couple of numbers.