Benjamin Herman Trio

This was Dutch alto-saxophonist Benjamin Herman's first visit to Dublin, and he managed to draw a full house despite the competing jazz attraction of Diana Krall. Stylistically, Herman can be located firmly within the bebop tradition, but this is not to suggest that he is a conservative - he combines a respect for tradition with an uncompromisingly modern edge. The other two musicians were also Dutch: Jos Machtel (bass), and Joost van Schaijck (drums) provided able and inventive backing throughout.

The trio opened with some high-powered and aggressive bop - even the initially relaxed My Ideal grew to a climactic ending. However, they really hit their stride with the tune Whose Bridge (by the Dutch pianist Misha Mengelberg) - a transparently simple, bluesy melody which inspired some fantastic improvisations.

Herman's ballad playing was less satisfying: a version of Billy Strayhorn's A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing was full of daring ideas, but seemed somewhat calculated and lacking in emotion.

The second set opened with Herman's own One O'Clock Dump, which was highly inventive and particularly notable for Joost van Shaik's virtuoso drumming. Van Shaik's own tune Toast With A J followed - built around a simple bass riff, it offered the kind of freedom which the trio seems to relish.

However, the highlight of the second set was another Mengelberg tune, Crocodile Tear, which saw the band enter into a lengthy and brilliant deconstruction of the simple melody. To close, they returned to straight bop for a driving version of This Is Happiness.