TEXAS singer-songwriter Eric Taylor is one of the most popular performers to play the Jumpin’ Hot Club, never failing to bring an amazing set of stories and songs to the table.

With a fine eye for detail of the human condition and his own colourful life, he had the audience spellbound during his two-hour show of simply him, his guitar and amazing recollections, as he spliced with wry humour his tales of drug dealers, heroin, Johnny Cash’s mother and America’s Deep South.

A splendid acoustic guitar player, Taylor milked such songs as Prison Movie, Walkin’ Back Home and the wonderful Brand New Companion, which built a momentum neither himself nor the audience wanted to let go.

While the audience was left richer from seeing one of the best of his kind in top form, Naomi Sommers is a new name who, after a reserved opening, showed great promise.

Her song Mama’s House, from her album Gentle As The Sun, in particular did her reputation no harm. We will be hearing a lot more from this New England singersongwriter.

Maurice Hope