Last Tuesday's Dublin Jazz Society concert marked the return of veteran tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson to Dublin after a lapse of several years.
Backed by Gerry Roebuck (piano), Dave Fleming (bass) and John Wadham (drums), he showed that he has lost none of his flair for turning out a stream of very personal, melodically beguiling solos, wrapping that distinctively gorgeous tone around some distinguished standards and, in the process, capturing the audience from the start. But it was also something of a curate's egg of a concert.
Robinson's impact was diluted by - to these ears - an insensitive and poorly-balanced sound set-up; early on, it seemed as if the sounds of the quartet rattled round the hall like loose change. Some adjustments were made and there was an improvement, although conditions remained unsatisfactory - the balance never really seemed right.
This wasn't the only problem; Roebuck is a highly-competent pianist, but he appeared ill at ease at times in what may have been an unfamiliar setting, and it was not until well into the second set that he seemed to settle.
Despite this, Robinson produced some affectingly lyrical work, most memorably on a couple of ballads, The Night We Called It A Day and It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream. But he was also in commanding form on So Danco Samba, Let's Fall In Love and Hushabye, where the support from bass and drums in particular was especially apposite.
And he paced himself well; although he is one of the most melodically-inventive soloists around, he never stretched out for more than a couple of choruses and always gave the impression that there was plenty in reserve.