The siren calls from over the English Channel persuaded my wife and I to leave the solitude of Suffolk for an Autumnal Parisien break, where we sampled the City of Light's lively jazz scene. 

As an exotic change from our bi-monthly attendance at Hadleigh Jazz Club, our fix of Saturday night pizzazz was filled at Le Duc des Lombards jazz club in the French capital's vibrant Châtelet district. 

The Club has hosted many of the biggest names in jazz but, for this gig, luckily it was the turn of funky American tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott and his Quartet to turn on the style for us.

Le Duc Des Lombards (Picture: Alex Carr)

Stopping off in Paris during his European tour, before jetting back to gigs in New York, Tivon showed the discerning audience why he travels the world with his combo and as a sideman to Gregory Porter. His list of performing venues includes The Royal Abert Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic and New York's Carnegie Hall.

Flamboyant in appearance, but modest in manner, he endearingly introduced himself with: "Bonjour - ça va - that's all the French I know", striking the right chord with the cosmopolitan audience.

Tivon in full flow (Picture: Alex Carr)

With a setlist including tracks from his albums and the singles Let Our Hearts Decide and Tour Life Tivon coaxed his sax to the boundary of its possibilities. The coolest and grooviest of musicians, for a brief period his instrument was playing notes seemingly without him fingering the keys – a good trick if you can do it!

Being one of the most fluent, technical, and engaging saxophonists I've witnessed gave me the feeling of watching a carefully crafted performance. However, this didn't prevent him from launching into fearless freeform improvisations.

With the rapid-fire drumming of Ken Salters, the glittering piano artistry of Idris Frederick and the cool bass of Dean Torrey, the Quartet's interplay was in complete sympathy with Tivon's exciting avant-garde vision. 

Following the show, Tivon generously spent time with me off-stage, helpfully describing his style as "New Wave" - and who was I to argue with him? 

Robert Carr and Tivon Pennicott (Picture: Nub News)

When planning your next visit to Paris, for a jazz experience with a touch of difference, look at what's on at the intimate Le Duc des Lombards – you should like it! 

Since returning to these shores, I've heard about Hadleigh Jazz Club's gig on the same night. I'm reliably informed that it was a super performance of Cannonball Adderley's music, starring Pete Long (alto sax) and Paul Higgs (trumpet), together with a trio of Club favourites – Jim Watson (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and George Double (drums).

With the season to be merry fast approaching, next up at Hadleigh Jazz Club on Saturday 23 December is the very popular annual show Jazz at the Movies: A Swinging Christmas! Fronted by another Club favourite, the acclaimed chanteuse Joanna Eden, she will be joined by the Chris Ingham Quartet.

Tickets for the matinee and evening performances go on sale at 10:00 am sharp tomorrow, Saturday 4 November at ticketsource.co.uk/hadleigh-jazz-club

To receive information about future HJC gigs, ask to be added to the Club's mailing list by contacting George Double at [email protected] or via his website at georgedouble.com