You can't escape technology, even in a darkened jazz club in Soho. It informs most aspects of Paraphernalia's performance, from the studio-quality sound mix (courtesy of Miles Ashton) to the miniature mission control behind Peter Lemer's keyboards. Drummer Jon Hiseman remarked later how vital the internet had become since his wife (and bandleader) Barbara Thompson was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease several years ago: they have been in contact with all the major international research institutions, concluding that she should abandon harmful medication, stop touring and concentrate on composing.
This is the last chance to see Paraphernalia until better treatment emerges, and they are on good form for this final lap of honour. Thompson's condition did not appear to affect her performance: she paced herself carefully to keep fatigue at bay. The quintet comprises Lemer, Hiseman, the leader on saxes, Dave Ball on bass and Billy Thompson (no relation) on violin. Over the past 25 years, Paraphernalia have carved out a remarkably independent career, their musical direction following Thompson's compositional instincts into several genres outside jazz, the latest of which is tango.
Before settling into Anglo-Argentinian mode they opened with the stadium fusion of Guardians of the Deep, effortlessly scaled down to jazz-club volume, with Hiseman's virtuoso drumming underlining every gesture. Smoky Embrace, a number from the Intuition CD, was a ballad-like setting for an emotive violin solo and Lemer's distinctive, authoritative electronic grand-piano playing.
Their interpretation of the tango is hard and muscular, rather than having the romantic intensities of Gidon Kremer or the ironies of Carla Bley. Thompson's arrangements are complex and dynamic and their extended solo and collective blowing had the freedom and confidence that comes from continuous work in sympathetic venues - they are at the end of a five-week tour.
The sneaky funk of Tango 1 gave way to the brittle Tango 2, which gave Billy Thompson a chance to let rip. Tango 3 had a big spongy riff for fretless bass, crafting a dense carpet of sound for the tenor/violin lead. Tango 4 began with a bass solo, accompanied by keys and drums, that nearly raised the venue's low ceiling: chorus after chorus of incendiary virtuosity over a sequence similar to Astor Piazzolla's Libertango (once recorded by Grace Jones as I've Seen That Face Before). The two Thompsons joined in from the wings before moving centre stage to play the unisons that led into a flamboyant drum solo with everything you expect from Hiseman: the speed and charm of a good salesman, jazz musicianship and rock'n'roll showmanship.
• Until Saturday. Box office: 020-7439 0747.
