In 1984, the all-female Guest Stars arrived, causing rapture and relief among women musicians and fans, and a little wary wonderment from some who viewed them as if they were an item on the Discovery Channel. But the combination of news-making novelty ("What's the matter, aren't men good enough for you?" breakfast TV asked them) and a Latin-fusion repertoire, mixed with sharp original vocals, had them constantly touring, even appearing at New York's legendary Blue Note club.

The original lineup has re-formed after a 16-year break, and was welcomed back to London by a Spitz jammed with what looked like old fans and plenty of converts. Never a note-spraying, knock-'em-dead technical jazz band, the group was fuelled by collective strengths - still apparent, despite some audibility problems for the singers. The suppleness of the rhythm section (Josefina Cupido on drums, Linda Malone on congas, Alison Rayner on bass) fluently drove the music, Deirdre Cartwright operated in a kind of Steely Dan mode on punchy guitar breaks, and Ruthie Smith's tenor sax lent the band an exuberant Jazz Crusaders feel, notably on the classic Freedom Jazz Dance.

Cupido, Smith and pianist Laka Daisical shared vocals, the latter retaining her old gospelly bite, particularly on the anti-racism song Miles Apart, for all its rather ingenuous lyrics. Smith's soul voice led the percussive Latin swinger What Means Love, and the band's vivacious finale I Know I Know had the crowd whooping.

Some 92% of UK jazz instrumentalists are still blokes, according to Jazz Services' database, so maybe the Guest Stars arrival 20 years ago didn't make the difference it seemed it might. But it certainly made a difference to a lot of listeners, then and now.

· At Bonington Theatre, Nottingham (0115-967 0114), on Thursday.