HOW do you measure greatness? In some walks of life that would be easy to answer.

We all recognise "great" sportsmen; they are usually better than everyone else! Greatness in politicians indicates an ability to lead governments and change the course of history.

But how do you evaluate greatness when it comes to jazz musicians? Now that's a tough one.

Jazz, as indeed are all areas of music, is something of a personal thing -- for players as well as listeners.

There are so many different kinds of jazz but if we measure musical greatness through an ability to infuse excitement, subtlety, attack, tone and rhythm into a tune, plus total command of an instrument, then Ben Castle and Mark Nightingale surely have it in spades.

Castle (tenor) and Nightingale (trombone) were making their third appearance at Derby Ward Labour Club and, as usual, the place was packed to the rafters by an appreciative audience who gave these two brilliant young men a richly-deserved standing ovation.

They rarely work together as a duo but such are their individual talents that they bounced off each other with a surety that was awe-inspiring.

All jazz musicians are gifted with the ability to sit in with their contempories but to watch it work so well at this level was mind-boggling.

A huge contribution to the Castle/Nightingale performance was made by the excellent backing trio led by Steve Moore (keyboards), with Steve Berry (bass) and Dave Walsh (drums).

The featured soloists were generous in their praise of the accompaniment. I know the two Steves very well but it was the first time I had heard young Dave Walsh.

He is a sensational drummer and the fact that he can play modern jazz with such flair and power is remarkable, given he wasn't even born when the genre was at the height of its popularity.

FRED SHAWCROSS