One of the most iconic figures in popular music opened his new national tour in Brighton in the sold-out Dome, 45 years after his original quartet first toured the UK.

There have been different line-ups over the years but Dave Brubeck's current band has been with him for the past 25 years.

The excellence of the ensemble was evident from the opening piece, Broadway Bossa Nova, featuring saxophonist Bobby Militello's beautiful, liquid flute sound.

Brubeck showed no signs of slowing up in his 83rd year, proceeding through a range of standards and originals.

The old song Margie brought booting, bluesy, alto-sax from Militello and racing double-time solos from the leader, who dipped into boogie-woogie patterns, too.

These Foolish Things used a nice arrangement featuring Michael Moore's bowed double bass.

Crescent City Stomp was a New Orleans tribute on which Militello's alto roared floatily, the first of several raunchy highlights from the former Maynard Ferguson soloist. Randy Jones delivered suitably second line-style drumming.

The Jerome Kern standard Yesterdays had an inventive arrangement with episodes of stride piano and a lively stop-time duet for double bass and saxophone.

There was a passage of Brubeck's innovation from the Fifties with the whole band improvising a vamp in the style of Bach counterpoint - one of the tricks that used to annoy purists.

Brubeck performed several new compositions in a well varied set including the waltz I Love Vienna and the solemn flute feature Elegy.

The band's most successful period was represented by Unsquare Dance and the late Paul Desmond's classic Take Five.

They must have played that so many times but their version was definitely their own and unlike the cool anthem on a million compilation albums.

The encore was a rousing Take The A Train with the crowd eager for more but well satisfied by this remarkable musician and his players.