One of the keys to artistic expression is the use of contrast or contrasting elements within aspects of uniformity. Much mainstream jazz, with its reliance on a fairly unvarying pattern of melody, improvisation on melody and repetition of melody, has a solid ground of uniformity which relies on facets of the melody and the individuality of the improvisations to give it life and excitement. Without these variables jazz can become a rather lacklustre form of expression.

Jutta's Party Band at the Spin last Thursday escaped the lacklustre to reach peaks of energy and intensity through individually contrasting approaches. Violinist Chris Garrick (pictured) is well-known for the almost intimidating attack with which he plays, tearing hair off the bow in the process of building up solos from clusters of notes into highly rhythmic funky phrases using harsh dirty' double stopping. Dave Gordon, on the other hand, with one foot in the classical world, has a precise and effortless technique. While Garrick tears and scrapes at the strings as he draws the audience with him to the summit of a solo, Gordon replies with a brilliant cascade of notes played with masterful rhythmic control. Add to this the bluesy yet analytic and increasingly fluent style of the Spin's resident guitarist Pete Oxley and you have the ingredients of a remarkable evening, especially when supporting these three are Oly Hayhurst on bass and Russ Morgan on drums. The result was jazz with a real edge and that all important contrast.

On the second night of a short tour, this quintet, called Jutta's Party Band because they originally got together to celebrate Pete Oxley's partner's birthday, sounded tight and imaginative from the first number, playing the whole evening with intensity and co-operation. Despite relying on a number of old, almost well-worn, favourites it was a particular pleasure to hear some of Gordon's compositions such as the ballad Greenland and the sparkling The Alchemist and the Catflap. The evening also emphasised what a different it makes to have keyboards in the mix which is so often missing with the Spin house band.