CANBERRA’S hot-house of creativity, The Street Theatre, was alive with adventurous and bemused music lovers eager to sample some of the one-off performances included in this year’s 10-day feast of contemporary jazz that is the Capital Jazz Project.

As expected of The Street these days, the presentation of this event is superb, with excellent sound and atmospheric lighting to enhance the performances

More than 90 players are participating this year’s event. The emphasis is on reed instruments and composition, and on Saturday night, contrasting programs by three world-class ensembles were on offer.

Saxophonist, Sandy Evans performed in Street Two, transformed into a glamorous, cosy jazz club for the festival, complete with table candles, gold wall frames and chandeliers. Joining the Sandy Evans trio was charismatic Indian tabla player, Bobby Singh, to present a series of new compositions by Evans, which she announced, had been completed “20 minutes ago”, and that commenced with Evans on clarinet setting the theme and mood for a series of exotic, mesmerising improvisations.

Uber-cool combo, Albare, was the attraction in Street One. Fronted by Moroccan-born jazz guitarist Albert Dadon, Albare also included German harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens, to present silky smooth, Latin-American-inspired compositions. Lost in their music-making, the musicians played with eyes downcast, studiously ignoring their audience, luscious music-making at this level being entertainment enough.

Then back to Street Two for tenor saxophonist and composer, John Mackey who, with his trio, was premiering an 11-section suite that he confided was “only completed today”.

His music had a very New York jazz-club feel, dense, atmospheric, emotionally involving with its myriad complex progressions and improvisations, providing a satisfying conclusion to a fascinating evening.