New York pianist Bill Charlap has worked with musicians such as Jim Hall, Benny Carter and Gerry Mulligan. He's a jazz conservative and a highly appealing player. He was joined for this Trinity Jazz Society concert by the Irish drummer Stephen Keogh, and the English bassist Mark Hodgson.

It being Valentine's night, the trio devoted most of their time to romantic standards. Often in jazz, the tune is thrown aside unceremoniously so the players can get down to the real business of improvising. However, the Charlap Trio seemed to relish every melody, and made each piece hang together like a fully-rounded composition rather than a hotch-potch of solos.

He was at his best on ballads. An achingly slow Autumn in New York was received in an awed hush by the audience, as was his encore, My Funny Valentine. Both were played in the most simple, unshowy manner.

Guitarist Louis Stewart made a brief appearance, joining the trio for several tunes. He and Charlap combined with ease, their improvisations linking seamlessly. Their swinging version of Gerry Mulligan's Line for Lyons was excellent, but it was another ballad, Stairway to the Stars, that stole the show.