The Hadleigh Jazz Club's Christmas show is regarded by many as a staple ingredient of the town's seasonal festivities, and the town hall audience was more than ready to celebrate the return of Jazz at the Movies.

HJC regulars are always ready to express their appreciation of promotor George Double's shows and, in return, the band gave them a highly entertaining evening of popular seasonal favourites, together with some lesser-known numbers.

The band, comprising a line-up of regular performers was led by pianist/arranger Chris Ingham. Not only is Chris a fine musician but, as the drollest of MCs, he kept the audience amused by sharing tales about the numbers and artistes who had performed and composed them.

Acclaimed vocalist Joanna Eden is a multi-talented and sassy performer and I've missed seeing her in recent times. Not only was she engagingly accomplished behind the microphone, but also treated the audience to her full range of talents when performing self-penned songs while accompanying herself on piano. Her CV also boasts of her being long-time teacher/mentor to pop superstar Sam Smith.

The front-row threesome was completed by saxophonist/clarinettist Mark Crooks, who never fails to impress with his technique and versatility. At one moment he was Rock 'n' Rolling it like the best of them; the next it was the sublime lyricism of a Stan Getz. Both are firm favourites of mine.

Completing the line-up was the rhythm section of Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and George Double (drums). Their supportive musicality was a vital part of the overall success of the performance.

As a quintet, all five have been performing together for many years - at least since the inaugural 2012 Hadleigh Jazz Club season. The longevity of the collective, and their obvious mutual enjoyment manifested itself with their togetherness, warmth, and supertight execution of the arrangements.

It's not easy to select favourites from an eclectic mix curated for a two-hour romp through seasonally appropriate ditties, but here goes. I've always had a soft spot for Leroy Anderson's delightful Sleigh Ride, and the opening instrumental brightened up the mood for the entire evening. Standard favourites followed, including Joanna singing Happy Holiday, Jingle Bell Rock and Santa Claus is coming to Town.

Revealing her singer/songwriter talents, Joanna performed Freight Train powered on by George's driving drumming together with Mark's rocking sax. Another side to her was revealed by Peace Inside, a sensitive composition performed with appropriate feeling.

Numbers associated with Rock performers particularly caught my attention – the bittersweet I Believe in Father Christmas (Greg Lake); the melancholy Driving Home for Christmas (Chris Rea); and the parodying Don't Let the Bells End (The Darkness).

Following more than twenty numbers, the show ended with Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn's Let it Snow. George had promised: 'a stocking-full of 20th-century holiday classics and curiosities and a delightfully jazzy blend of the sublime, sentimental and plain silly – the perfect way to begin the festivities', and he wasn't wrong in that.

With the gloomy weather reflecting the nation's mood, the show was the perfect antidote to lift spirits. A young first-time jazz-goer said that he thought it was "amazing"; and a maturer regular told me that he found it "an uplifting experience" - and I wouldn't argue with either of them.

Government edicts permitting, next year's Hadleigh Jazz Club will kick-off on Saturday 19 February, with Matt Ford performing a tribute to Matt Monro. All things being well, tickets will be available from ticketsource.co.uk/hadleigh-jazz-club

Advance information about HJC gigs can be obtained by asking to be added to the Club's mailing list. Contact George on [email protected] or via his website at georgedouble.com