ONSTAGE walked the image of John 40 years ago, son Alec, beginning with solo double bass, so unexpected that the audience was transfixed.

Joined by piano (John Horler), drums (legendary Alan Ganley), dad's soprano saxophone and Mark Nightingale's trombone, the compellingly optimistic tune was so familiar, and yet .... John settled the audience's buzzing speculation. It was the Tomorrows World title tune, as fresh today as when he composed it decades ago.

Dankworth's prodigious composer/arranger career for TV and films (Accident, The Servant, Modesty Blaise, etc) have sidelined his sublime performing talents. The first hour saw stunningly audacious, yet understated instrumental jazz.

Dame Cleo took the spotlight for the second hour. She continued the self-mocking Dankworth displayed in his set, saying: "I'm a very ordinary DAME."

Cleo's renditions of John's compositions for Shakespeare sonnets Shall I Compare Thee and Where The Bee Sucks produce thrilling goose-bumps, not for the first time during the night.

The physique of the Dankworth parents naturally show evidence of the passage of years, but their musical performance is as supple as anything running at Royal Ascot earlier in the day. Packed with controlled energy and intelligence, this was thorough-bred music to match a day at the races. A guaranteed winner.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, June 15, 2005