This showcase of bands, due to tour the South East Arts region, provided a night of quality and contrast.

An excellent opener from the warm sound of Black Voices - a five-strong female a capella group which supported Nina Simone in Brighton two years ago.

Their affinity with US group Sweet Honey In The Rock was in evidence on the latter's song We Are One, followed by an original Zambian piece.

Their vocal counterpoint was stunning on Caledonia, a piece by Scottish folk musician Dougie Maclean. There was plenty of humour too from Reggae Europe with its detours in French and German, via the Macarena.

Perrier Award-winners the Higginbottom-Mayne Quartet delivered polished jazz standards, with an imaginative arrangement on Maiden Voyage and Branford Marsalis' Wolverine highlighting the solo skills of saxophonist Sammy Mayne and guitarist Mike Outram, finishing with Groovin' Low a funky original by drummer Chris Higginbottom.

The accomplished string trio led by Chris Wood offered some rich sounds from two violins and cello. The leader's strong rapport led the audience painlessly from Morris dances to a series of striking arrangements, including the harmonics and drones of A Cornish Young Man and Wood's Three Predictions.

Showstopping ten-piece Latin band Conjunto Sabroso's merengue and cumbia stirred the audience from their seats, led by several exuberant South American performers.

John Styles
Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Brighton, Saturday