It is a testimony to the extraordinary level of talent in the Jazz Warriors that so many of its former members have gone on to carve out notable solo careers. Gary Crosby, Steve Williamson and Cleveland Watkiss are all now band leaders, as is vibraphonist Orphy Robinson, whose latest quartet manages to explore both euphoric peaks and claustrophobic depths of self-absorption.

In Derby, the feelgood factor emanated from the drum stool, occupied by Jazz Jamaican All-star percussionist Kenrick Rowe. Swirling conventional bop and funk rhythms together with Latin influences, Rowe proved himself to be a sympathetic accompanist. His thrustingly physical grooves provided the band with an emotional core, while Robinson's vibes glittered and pulsed with an otherworldly intensity.

There is no better instrument to show off on than the vibraphone, and Robinson did not disappoint. He has trained himself to play with laser precision, at very high speeds, and the result is a spectacle that would not look out of place in a circus ring. Fortunately, he is also the possessor of a mischievous melodic sensibility, and a keen awareness of dynamics, and these musical qualities were always on hand to temper his indulgences.

With a selection of harmonically ingenious pieces, the band seemed sure to triumph, yet as the evening wore on, a sense of fatigue became palpable among the audience. This was largely due to the continual segueing of one composition into another, an ingenious trick, but one that soon wore thin. By the time the fourth double bass solo came around, an elongated musical structure was seriously in danger of collapsing into formlessness. An additional problem was pianist Pat Thomas, whose prolonged bouts of dissonance eventually proved charmless. But the most significant shortcoming - and something that could have been easily remedied - was the absence of a warm wind or brass instrument to counter the tinkly and metallic combination of piano, vibes and incessant ride cymbal. Quite simply, after over an hour of uninterrupted high frequencies, your ears need a rest.