Mister PC is Cater’s own label; its debut release featured Spillett’s big band with Cater at the batterie. Now comes this pared-down follow-on and yes, it’s the big band’s rhythm section re-purposed as the Simon Spillett Quartet and recorded live at Pizza Express Soho. And very resonantly too.

Spillett opens with a blistering, blow-torch evaluation of his hero Tubby Hayes’ ‘For Members Only’, Barron similarly charged, the whole effect like an onslaught. The crowd loved its ‘headlong excitement’ in the words of note-writer Alan Barnes. It’s an augury for what ensued for the rest of the session too. All six tracks have Hayes associations, for that is Spillett’s preferred repertoire, with four penned by TH and two by Clark Terry, and taken from their memorable 1961 New York session.

The latter’s ‘A Pint of Bitter’ is a medium-tempo groover, bass and drums in the pocket as they used to say, over its 13-minute duration, with Barron’s lengthy solo showing his bebop facility, his lines and bluesy edge yet another pointer to his class. Spillett follows, his assertive, detailed style certainly echoing that of Hayes himself yet recognisably his own. ‘Opus Ocean’ (also by Terry) kicks off at a near-frantic tempo, Spillett strong-toned in his attack, punching its riff shape home and exposing the harmonies to a searching examination, Cater breaking up the beat in clamorous fashion ahead of Barron’s Powell-like entry, the invention unflagging as tenor and drums joust to the finish.

Dankworth’s solo opens ‘Grits, Beans and Greens’, Barron and Spillett following in equally inventive form ahead of Cater’s lusty solo. ‘Souriya’ is milder, tenor banked down and mellow, Barron similarly thoughtful. So, a confident display by all four, Spillett in full command, the group as one and greatly to the taste of this crowd.