THE Ted Heath Band plays its final concert in London tonight, and at Derby Ward Labour Club on Friday night, Tommy Whittle (tenor) gave ample evidence -- if any was needed -- of exactly how much that great unit will be missed.

Whittle, who has been with the Heath Band since the 1950s, gave a series of blistering solos which had a packed audience on its feet. He seems to get better with age, if such a cliche can be applied to someone of this man's colossal talent.

So, too, does his musical mate for the evening Roy Williams (trombone), who, like Whittle, is universally regarded as a giant of jazz, recognised in Europe and America for his huge contribution to the genre.

Whittle and Williams are no strangers to Bolton -- Roy is a native of Farnworth -- and they were visibly touched by the warmth of their welcome and the enthusiastic response to their musical offerings. A truly memorable performance.

The Steve Moore trio, as ever, provided a rock solid foundation for the pattern weaving of the feature star soloist and Jeriatric Jazz, as usual, swung like the Bronx Express on a night when a bunch of veteran jazzers just rolled back the years.

Amen to that! Fred Shawcross