YOUNG MAESTRO of the jazz and blues guitar Artie Zaitz wowed the audience at the Cabbage Patch for the club's sold-out Summer gig on 20th August. 

Flanked by Ruben Fox on tenor saxophone, Mark Taylor on drums and Ross Stanley on Hammond organ, Artie showed us what can be done on the guitar with brilliant, inventive technique and a bold selection of lesser-known tunes, including one or two of his own.

Ruben Fox poured out a whole series of fluid, melodic solos, while Mark Taylor and Ross Stanley locked together to produce rhythmic accents at every opportunity. Stanley's playing was a masterclass of the Hammond organ, which warbled, fizzed or gurgled as he tap-danced on the bass pedals, with the Leslie speakers whirring away behind him.

For those who had never witnessed Zaitz in action before, the gig was a revelation. Rarely have we heard such fine and sensitive musicianship - he seems to know every jazz tune ever recorded. And it was fascinating to see him teaching the band certain tunes while they were actually playing them. That's proper jazz, folks (photo by Nick Hartfree).

Meanwhile, see below for the club's Autumn lineup of guest speakers, beginning on 30th September.