The creative explosion in British jazz in the past three years has been well documented, and audiences will understand why when the Julian Siegel Quartet arrives from London tonight for its first appearance at Jazz Standard. In 2007, saxophonist and composer Siegel won a BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist; after nearly a decade of studio and roadwork, his band’s latest recording Vista (Whirlwind Recordings) has been hailed as “an all–too–rare combination of angularity with warmth...This album perfectly demonstrates how a quartet of seasoned musicians can successfully and seemingly effortlessly, produce an album of fresh ideas and catchy themes.” (All About Jazz) “Listening to some of my favorite albums throughout the history of the music,” says Julian Siegel, “I’m struck by how many of them were made by ‘bands’ – a particular combination of people touring and playing together for years. There’s something special about that.”  Julian Siegel - reeds Liam Noble - piano Oli Hayhurst - bass Gene Calderazzo - drums