Jazz fans have a rare opportunity to see a former member of American super-trio, The Bad Plus, when pianist Ethan Iverson guests with top UK alto saxophonist Martin Speake’s quartet at Colchester Arts Centre Jazz Club this weekend.

It was in 2002 that Martin and Ethan last performed together - as a duo touring the UK and Scotland, following the release of My Ideal, a ballad album of standards.

Now, 15 years on, they’re back together and have recently recorded a new album of Martin’s compositions, entitled Intention.

Citing Lee Konitz and Charlie Parker as major influences, Martin first came to public attention as a founder-member of the award-winning saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers, during the height of the UK’s so-called Eighties Jazz Revival, later forming his own quartet.

While Martin’s style is reminiscent of Paul Desmond’s smoothness but with the muscularity of Charlie Parker, Ethan is one of the most high-profile of the new breed of exciting and innovative American jazz pianists.

In the late Nineties Ethan released Construction Zone (Originals) and Deconstruction Zone (Standards) in tandem, with the latter being hailed by the New York Times as a Top Ten pick for that year.

After the turn of the millennium, Ethan achieved perhaps his greatest noteability as a member of The Bad Plus, with bassist Reid Anderson and drummer David King. Until recently, The Bad Plus’ repertoire always had a reputation for making the word eclectic appear narrow and limiting - from Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring to covers of hits by the Pixies, Aphex Twin and Nirvana, tempered by a series of originals from all three trio members that often contained a variety of stylistic sources.

Backed by two top-drawer musicians in bassist Fred Thomas and award-winning drummer James Maddren, the quartet play the Church Street venue this Sunday.

Admission is £15, £13 for concessions, available on the doors, which open at 7pm or in advance by calling the box office on 01206 500900 or going on-line at colchesterartscentre.com