Ronnie Scott’s might have “revered institution” status, but its present navigators clearly keep their fingers on the contemporary jazz pulse. The proof was plain at a fascinating triple bill in its innovative pop-up series, hosted by the Jazz Cafe – a gig that wholeheartedly embraced jazz’s creative future as 2017 beckons.

Young multi-instrumental duo Blue Lab Beats (Namali Kwaten and David Mrakpor, aka NK OK and Mr DM) played an opener of hip-hop grooves and interwoven hooks that nodded to the late J Dilla and to Robert Glasper, as well as influences from London’s booming young jazz, hip-hop and neo-soul-steeped underground. A similarly beats-rooted but improvisationally real-time outfit was led by the brilliant UK drummer Richard Spaven, whose trio with guitarist Stuart McCallum and bassist Robin Mullarkey was augmented by pianist Oli Rockberger and young neo-soul singer Jordan Rakei.

Spaven’s fierce, fastmoving set shifted between guitar-vibrato shimmers badgered by snare-drum shuffles and lurching offbeats, a rhythm-bending tribute to jazz vibraphone giant Bobby Hutcherson, and quirky bass-launched themes that sometimes recalled mid-period Wayne Shorter.

Session guitar star Ben Jones, a surefooted master of percussive chordwork and swerving runs, played the more funkily straight-ahead finale, including a remarkable falsetto-whooping jazz trombone break from Trevor Mires, a visit to the jazz standby A Night in Tunisia with singer Natalie Williams, and the dazzling drumming of a rising star in the aptly named Dexter Hercules.

•Ronnie Scott’s pop-up at the Jazz Cafe, London, continues until 22 December.