From Chechnya to Purley, a keyboard player has jetted back from playing with internationally acclaimed violinist Vanessa Mae to join his band members for their latest gig.

Giles Holland has barely touched down in the UK from playing at the 35th birthday of president Ramzan Kadyrov before he takes to the stage with his appropriately named band Time is Tight at Rayon d’Or in Airport House on October 28.

Based on the music of soul group Booker T and the MGs Time is Tight consists of Holland, drummer Gary Pope and Dave Raynor, and met through connections at St Barnabas Church, Purely in 2009.

Pope, whose own claim to fame is playing with 80s metal band Marquis De Sade, writing cult classic Somewhere up in the Mountains, says the band play for fun not fame.

He says : “We all have work commitments, as can be seen from Giles, so we try to fit in rehearsals and gigs where we can.

I met Giles years ago through our wives and we said we should get together and jam but it took about three years for us to do anything about it.”

Playing largely instrumental reworkings of Booker T’s tracks as well as James Bond tunes and jazz pieces.

Time is Tight are playing at Rayon d’Or, Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon on Friday October 28.

Entry is free and the band is due to play from 8.30pm.